Please note that the information on this page is not static and will be updated twice weekly until the final update following the closing of this year’s Budget Survey on Wednesday, February 4, 2026.

(Last updated on Wednesday, January 21, 2026)

TOTAL SURVEYS RECEIVED TO DATE: 69

1. Are you a resident of Region of Queens Municipality?
Yes = 69 No = 0

2. Are you the owner of a business that is located in Region of Queens Municipality?
Yes = 13 No = 56

3. Quality of Life — On a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being “very low” and 10 being “very high”, use the slider below to indicate how high you feel quality of life is for residents of the Region of Queens.
Average response: 6.52

4. What are the aspects of living in Queens that you like and what areas need improvement?

Click here to view all submitted responses.

I love the interconnected and friendly community we have in Queens. The small-town vibe is unbeatable. However, I would like to see improvements to our downtown infrastructure, particularly by adding character to the buildings, which could be subsidized by the municipality in partnership with the owners. We need stores that cater to both locals and tourists. Additionally, our nightlife is lacking, aside from the Astor. It would be wonderful to have more restaurants, bars, and entertainment options in the area. Food and housing are major concerns for many who cannot buy or rent. I urge our municipality to take significant action to address our food and housing crisis.
– proximity to nature – amenities like the Astor Theatre, Hospital and Queens Place. Areas of improvement: – Communication with community. We miss the Advance. It was a great way to get news to everyone in the county. Perhaps a monthly newsletter from the Region could be distributed?? – Property Taxes. Insanely high. Especially the town of Liverpool. With the cap, it creates massive inequities with some people paying ridiculous amounts and others paying taxes well below wht they should be paying. This has to change. I also feel that people livign within 5-10 mins of LIverpool should be paying more than people living in the middle of nowhere with no services (such as places like Kempt, Ponhook/Molega). Why are their rates the same as someone in Brooklyn or Milton who has sidewalks, municipal water/sewer, lights, curbside garbage pick up, and easy access to amenities that Liverpool has. I’d suggest three rates… Town of Liverpool Rate, “suburb of Liverpool” (Milton, Brooklyn, Mersey Point)…places within 5 mins of Liverpool…. and then a 3rd rate for more rural parts of the county. – Recreation: We do a terrible job with programming for kids. Look at what MODL and Bridgewater offer for camps in summer, march break etc…. We used to have “Super Summer Playdays” and there were daily activities for kids all summer. We really need to do better in this area. – Queens Place: This needs to be a central gathering hub. People shouldn’t feel like they aren’t welcome there. It should be a hive of activity…..
-Love the landscape. Lots of beautiful beaches and Parks. The Municipality clearly takes pride in the maintenance and cleanliness of our County. -Small town friendly vibes can’t be beat! -Quiet and peaceful Downside: Queens is an absolute bore for kids and teens. It would be nice to see some activites or spaces for the younger population. We can’t forget about the kids in this sleepy little town!
Able to walk on beaches Council appears indecisive Scrap new garbage and recycling plan. Reopen recycling facility at landfall location.
Accessibility is still very low when it comes to infrastructure all over town. Access to food is also extremely lacking.
Beautiful, natural resources. Extremely poverty ridden with no opportunities for economic improvement.
Better low income housing, Crack down on the amount of substance abuse , child welfare needs to be top priority ( our children are falling through the cracks and allowing unfit parents to have custody needs to be addressed ) we need more stores that can cater to the majority of the population ( not all these high end business that only benefit the wealthy) better management of public works budget ( 5 people standing around watching a piece of equipment dig a hole for one example) why do I have to pay to use the walking track when I already pay a high rate of property tax for that money eater of a building , queens county has become a retirement destination ( we need opportunities that are going to attract young people and their families) new management for Queens Place( the current don’t answer emails or try and bring in events to help pay for that place!) the “old money” of liverpool has to stop making alot of the decisions!
Better use of public space and acquisition of lands that can be used for coastal access and the public. Maintenance of the parks and recreation facilities.
Downtown Liverpool needs more rest stops for its aging population; public washrooms facilities; safe places to tie up dogs when shopping; better enforcement of speed zones; better water delivery; less acronyms in Capital Budget Plans (like really how many citizens understand all that jargon!); improve our park marketplace; sound barriers at the dry docks…
Ease of access to shops, entertainment and sporting facilities The downtown core needs revitalization
Events for youth….improvement on rds conditions ….
Friendly community with lots of artistic talents such as music, arts performance and crafts
Garbage collection hahah
Great parks. Clean and safe. Potholes on bridge
I like that we are a small town but have access to most services and need to travel for very little. I like that we are community-minded and care about each other. Areas that need improvement are cost of living, health care access, access to more varied shopping options and events, and road quality.
I love the pace here. It gives you room to breathe and room to think. I love that nature isn’t a “weekend activity,” it’s just… life. Ocean, woods, sky. It recalibrates you. I love the people. There’s a real sense of “we look out for each other” when it counts. And I love the pride, the quiet kind. The kind you feel in small businesses, community events, volunteer boards, and how people show up when someone needs help. There’s also something powerful about being somewhere that still has identity, history, character, stories, not just development. What I think could be improved We’re ready for the next level of year-round vibrancy, not just seasonal spikes. That means more reasons for people to gather in winter and shoulder seasons, and more support for the businesses trying to stay open through them. We also need to keep strengthening infrastructure and access, the things that make day-to-day life easier and make it simpler for visitors (and investors) to say yes: * better consistency in services and amenities * better use of our assets such as parks and the Emera Centre * stronger collaboration across community + business + tourism And I’ll say the quiet part out loud: we could improve how we attract and keep talent here by making workplaces the kind people don’t want to leave. Housing, training, leadership, culture… it’s all connected.
I love the scale of this town, the camaraderie, and the natural beauty. I wish the town was more committed to improving the beauty of it’s areas like the bridge needing repainting. I also wish the emergency room never closed and we could depend on it.
It is great to live here but there is room for improvement. I think the new rules for garbage bags needs to be reviewed as the current rules will increase the dumping of garbage on private land.
Its beautiful,and can be peaceful.Areas that need improvement are the drug abuse in the younger people,the illegal drug houses,the people selling illegal cigarettes,all need to get help and the dealers need to be gone.We need police prescense on our streets,all hours.Or security officers.
Labour force interest and reliability, less Greg market more real business, economic attraction and not just sori t to bottom with low income supports, timeliness and enforcement of bylaws.
Like the community in which I live and the diversity between communities. Ie inland (lakes/campgrounds/parks) vs coastal beaches. Small rural communities and closeness to Liverpool Like the increase in construction of ‘affordable housing’ and councils support of it. Hope this continues Like continuation of repairing/upgrading existing sewer/water Dislike developers who push for non affordable housing and expect taxpayers to foot the infrastructure bill. (Water/sewer extension Like improvements to RQM parkland outside Of Liverpool. Ie Beach Meadows. How about developing former Boy Scout land with improved assets to increase use?
Like: The natural environment is spectacular! Proximity to beautiful lakes and picturesque seasides are second to none. People are generally friendly and helpful. Services within a reasonable travel are abundant and meets all my needs. Cost of living is bearable (so far!). Needs improvement: I am concerned that the care and oversight of our environment is in jeopardy due to economic pressures. The search for economic development, growth and improved financial position must never trump (excuse the terrible pun!) social and environmental stewardship. More upgrade and improvement to local roads, especially gravel ones is much needed. Garbage/recycling materials in cottage country needs a lot of improvement. Quite frankly the collection boxes are disgusting. Unfortunately, I don’t have a solution to offer but urge the municipality to come up with something better. Perhaps some other jurisdiction, somewhere has already found a better solution. A small but important issue is the need for year round public washrooms (even suitable well maintained port-a-potties) in every community and facility. These are basic services that ought to be available with ample signage so residents and visitors alike can avail of them.
Like: beaches Needs improvement: racism, affordable housing, opioid crisis, quality employers, better policing services focusing ng on the crack houses and gender based violence
Like:Parks. Library (wish it were in a more central location). Astor Theatre. Committed municipal staff (office, public works, everyone I have dealt with) Improvement needed: water and sewer infrastructure
Local grants
Love my home town! Some things need fixing though – really hating the lack of policing here now. I know the region doesn’t dictate to RCMP but something needs to be done about drivers here, speeding is out of control. Also you can walk down many streets and see ditches full of trash. Can the region hire more people to clean the town up better? Maybe offer some incentives to shop owners to paint buildings. We could use lights at some cross walls to get drivers’ attention. Maybe our region could look a community solar program with the high cost of power now. We have a special place here but there’s definitely some things that need fixing.
Love queens small shops , all inclusive , beautification projects , beaches and parks . I would love to see more public seating in the town park as well as few more trees for shade . Rebuilding the grandstand in the town park . More events held in the park . Id like to see a larger investment into the community garden. With left over yields donated to Queens food network .
Love the beaches. I feel the region needs to more aware of how they spend the taxers money.
Needs improvement- town bridge paving, better communication from council, more community festivals/initiatives to encourage community spirit and tourism
Pine Grove park, rec center, beaches close by
Property taxes is very high especially if you bought your house between 2021 and 2023 – our property taxes is 4 times higher then our neighbour that has the same house. All because they have been in their house longer. We are still waiting for a family doctor, we are on the list waiting for one, but we know folks who have been on list for a lot less time then us and they got a doctor already (it seems to based on who you know). We need more doctors or at least a walk in clinic to be able to go to, not the emergency department. Given how high our taxes are, the services available does not seem to align with them, the water utility has been plagued by issues the last few years and our rates will be increasing dramatically.
Pros: community, many things to do, the library is great, we have many services/shops, progress in downtown, more shops coming! Many amenities, close to other major shopping areas Cons: abandoned houses that are falling apart and are an eyesore, bad roads ie College St., We need a BIA
Queens Place is a great facility. A facility that often is commented on for it’s location, layout, and cleanliness. It’s a shame more doesn’t happen at such a great space.
Queens benefits from a strong sense of community, dedicated volunteers, and access to natural spaces that contribute to residents’ quality of life. Areas needing improvement include more equitable access to services across all communities, particularly in rural areas such as Caledonia, improved transportation and mobility options for residents who are geographically isolated, and sufficient staff capacity and oversight to ensure water rates, infrastructure planning, urban planning policies and building fees are reviewed and updated on a regular basis rather than being allowed to fall out of date over long periods of time.
Queens county municipality is not fit for purpose. It is inefficient, poorly managed, fraudulent, hypocritical and criminally wasteful of taxpayers money. Region of Queens has no discernable police presence or law enforecement. It is becoming a fearful place to live. The cost of living is obscene, with the Region of Queens taking no steps to prevent the proliferation of monopolies running essential services, and expects the taxpayer to be held accountable for the regions mismanagement of major projects and to provide funding through tax increases to cover the costs of the Region of Queens incompetance.
Queens is a good place to live because it feels safe, people know their neighbours, and there are many things to do and enjoy. Things that could be improved include more activities and spaces for youth and seniors, better upkeep of public spaces like parks and sidewalks, and more support for local events that bring communities together. It would also help to have better information about what services are available and how residents can access them, especially for people who are new to the area.
Queens place is under-utilized despite all the possibilities
Quiet, comfortable neighborhood, local businesses are very much invested in the community. We do need more businesses, especially retail
Recreation: Beyond a small number of externally organized children’s events, there are very few recreational opportunities available for families in our community. Many families—particularly those facing financial barriers—are unable to travel outside the area to access extracurricular activities. Currently, the region offers no mom-and-baby fitness / gathering poor and there are no dedicated activities for toddlers. There are no day camps for older children. Our pool has been gone for 3+ years and instead of offering those students jobs through the region, they were laid off / nothing was offered in the summers for kids. As a result, our beautiful facility remains significantly underused, despite its potential to serve as a vibrant hub for families.
Revitalized downtown LP Upgrade outdated water infrastructure (versus funding new water infrastructure for new developments)
Roads
Snow removal is huge. Sometimes the plow comes at 9pm when the snow melts the next morning. Let’s get some more trucks going and hire more people to work on call. also a seniors walking committee should be started. There’s lots of seniors in Queens that could benefit from a program aimed directly for them. Great way to promote health, also can help seniors connect with other seniors and get out of the house. Also could be a great way to start a fundraiser. Can have one in port Medway, one in Milton, Liverpool and even Mill village and Charleston.
The abundance of outdoor opportunities for activity is incredible. However, given the nature of our climate, the opportunity for indoor activities is very limited in the winter.
The beaches and trails. The friendly community. Beaches like Beach Meadows are spoiled by fish pens nearby.
The non existent recreation program needs to change.
The pace, beaches, parks, recreation and people to name a few. The downtown core is a disgrace. Potholes on the town bridge along with the awful look. The lack of action from Town council.mostly Mayor. Lack of direction. Cost of living.
The parks and out door spaces are very important to me for enjoyment. Pine Grove and former rail paths are fantastic. I think the Fort Point park is, however, neglected. It looks shabby most of the summer, flowerbeds and walkway full with tall weeds. Garbage cans rusted and unsightly, cigarette butts everywhere. This park is a main tourist attraction and should be a priority!!!
There is alot going on all year long so it gives everyone a chance to get out an socialize . Improvements- would like to see the park in town have more playground equipment, would like to see Queens place get used more
This survey feels like it was put out just to say it was done. It was hard to find, barely shared on facebook, and now it shows up again days before the budget is being approved. That’s not enough time for regular people to understand what’s going on or say anything useful. It looks more like a box checking exercise than real public input.
We are very fortunate to have natural beauty in our county and the slower pace of life which appeals to me. Although I’m aware everyone will not always be happy, supporting existing businesses and attracting more businesses to our area would create a better cohesiveness among the community members. I feel there is a lot of blaming others and pointing fingers rather than solutions to challenges as they arrive. Also there appears to be an uptake in the amount of drugs in our community. No one wants to have a drugs on our streets and affecting our community members.
We have so many beautiful beaches and coastline areas. We have I believe a very clean town core. Quiet living but yet lots to do. Great venue at the Astor. I don’t live in town but outside in a village. We love it here. Lived in Queens all my life. Improvement areas are developing the down town core. More local businesses. Waterfront development in the downtown core. So much potential. However I think we also need much better coastal protection. Houses are being built too close to shore. Was we should be protecting. We also have a housing issues. No affordable housing. Especially for our youth.
We love the beaches and Pine Grove and the friends we have made. Areas of improvement include: better grocery shopping and clothes shopping…..a more fair property tax system….not enough good restaurants….poor neglected Main St. A Council that does not listen to the existing infrastructure problems water and sewer in Liverpool and yet wants to spend our money on new development without addressing these issues.
We really should enclose the pool. This town is aging- the therapy that could be given to the residents at our very expensive and huge nursing home would be mind blowing. Water exercises are so gentle – they could maintain and add to their muscle to their frail body frames – which would help them and increase their quality of life. To put this much money in- it’s mind blowing not be to an indoor pool.
While new infrastucture is important. Looking after what we have is just as important. The town Bridge is not only an eyesore. Its quickly becoming a safety issue with paint chips and heavy rust everywhere,
Would like concerns about the boat repair business in my backyard addressed. Pollution, noise and bright lights. How close can an industrial business be to your property.
my complaints would be about projects that are near completion/already completed. The library location is absurd, the pool and rink boondoggles within a decade but otherwise things are incredible here in Queens. (Rebranding was ridiculous) Spend money on infrastructure and day to day things No more waste at the rink…..

5. Which areas do you consider to be priority for the Region of Queens Municipality’s Council during budget planning? (Check all that apply)

Strengthening partnerships with Nova Scotia Health Authority to improve doctor and medical professional recruitment efforts45
Special event development, including more events at Queens Place Emera Centre41
Economic development and supporting business growth41
Infrastructure and environment investments, including upgrading water and wastewater systems39
Community improvements, such as parks, trails, and amenities30
Funding programs to assist residents who need to drill new wells or septic fields29
Bylaw enforcement and public safety28
Investing in community-based organizations28
Policy improvements, such as enhanced coastal protections in planning and land-use documents28
More community engagement and “town hall” style meetings for Council to receive public input27
Making our community spaces and programming more accessible, welcoming, and inclusive23
Supporting programs and capital projects that specifically appeal to and support youth in our communities23
Working cooperatively with developers to support new housing projects throughout the county23
Tourism marketing and development to increase visitor traffic to the Region, both during and outside of peak seasons20
Emergency management preparedness and related education programs for the community19
Community navigation services and programs to help attract, welcome, and retain newcomers to Region of Queens Municipality18
Development of a long-term plan for South Shore Regional Airport11
Marking the 30th anniversary of amalgamation and the creation of Region of Queens Municipality3


6. What other suggestions or ideas do you have that you would like to share with Council as part of the budget planning process?

Click here to view all submitted responses.

As the council moves towards greater transparency, I would like to see detailed information on how our municipal reserves and collected taxes are being managed. Additionally, I am interested in understanding what the future of our reserves looks like. Many residents have been paying for water for many years, so I would like the budget to clearly show how these funds have been used for the maintenance and renewal of our aging infrastructure over the years.
All of the above are worthy but if I’m picking priority Is well something should rise to the top. We should be looking at ways to support our young people to stay here and raise a family. Sure new comers are great but let’s try to keep our youth here too. And Lordy straighten out the recycling program!
Allowing the emergency room to ever close is an embarrassment. Making sure that our community always has a place to go in crisis should be a top priority. I believe that council should invest, foster, and help develop Privateer Days much more. No new event will ever compare to the legacy and community investment that Privateer Days already has and it is completely unique to our region in all of Nova Scotia. It is a perfect opportunity to bring in more tourism, make our region stand out, and celebrate our businesses. I also believe that the council should invest into the beautification of Liverpool’s main street, parking lot, and bridge. It can be as beautiful as other small towns but needs more trees, more seating areas, few parking spots, new paint, and more care. It should be more pedestrian friendly. We need more businesses on our main street and they will only be attracted to it if it is attractive.
As someone who recently moved here the lack of recreational activities for both children and adults is alarming. There is a beautiful rink that sits empty, an outdoor pool that will do the same without programs.
Ask your employees and engage them more. They are the ones on the front line too and have the knowledge of what’s needed and have great ideas.
Consider putting BIG speed bumps in at the 3 way stop in Liverpool. This is done in many areas and the speed bumps should be installed as cars go “into” the cross walk. This will slow traffic down and force people to slow down before the crosswalk. In some places, they put a “double” speed bump where the car goes over a bump, and then over a second bump immediately after which is much more effective at slowing traffic down.
Council could look for easy ways to save money by sharing services, equipment, or buildings where possible. Small changes like using energy saving upgrades, and buying supplies in bulk could help lower costs over time. It would also be helpful for councillors to check in regularly with communities to see what is working and what needs to change, so money is spent where it will help the most. Staff at the Town Hall don’t listen very often when we have suggestions or comments.
Council should be going back through the last ten years of budgets to see where money was collected and never used for what it was supposed to be used for. From where I’m sitting, money has been mishandled for a long time, and it’s past time for real accountability and transparency. The issues raised in question 5 of this survey shouldn’t be questions at all. These are basic responsibilities of the municipality and should already be underway. One item shouldn’t be treated as more important than another when they all fall under Council’s job to manage properly.
Don’t try to do it all yourselves. There’s expertise, interest and support in the community. Involve us.
Enforcement of winter overnight parking ban. Consider changing noise by laws in residential areas.
Expanding recreation no infrastructure is critical. Do you want to grow businesses you need people, people will only live or certain things are. Particularly families are looking for things like indoor pool facilities when they’re choosing where to live.
Focus on what we have rather than build new. Live within your means. Look around. The amount of low income families continue to rise. Fewer people with the capacity to ‘pay’ Astor Theatre: what is the plan to make it less of a tax burden? Long term plan for the new pool? Good luck! We are entering tough times. Private developers need to use their own money for their builds.
I am concerned about the significant reliance on municipal and utility reserves and long-term borrowing in the draft capital plan, particularly for water and wastewater infrastructure that will support new development and the replacement of very old assets. The plan does not clearly identify how reserve withdrawals will be replenished over time or how future infrastructure renewal will be sustainably funded. I am also concerned that the plan does not clearly explain how costs associated with growth-related infrastructure will be recovered from developers, raising questions about long-term affordability and fairness for existing ratepayers.
I feel we need to cut back on spending such as new trucks I feel we have too many truck to maintain if we need to buy trucks maybe the basic one which are cheaper
I registered twice for receive community engagement emails and have not received any. Cut back on grants. No property tax increase We don’t have money or resources to be financing the Mount Pleasant expansion nor do we need it. Let’s get our abandoned/empty houses filled first before we allow a developer to come in and build new. Any development should be centered outside of Liverpool. Queens is a large area, and all expansion should be focused there to keep traffic away from the already troublesome Main St. /School St. Take care of existing infrastructure first, then new … Causeway in Western Head has not been repaired in over two years
Invest in retaining labour and less in bloated management and administration. Actually use the staff you have and stop wasting money on outside contractors.
Look into adding more positions to the region – specially in marketing / comms and recreation. The current recreation department needs a rehaul because their performance is not acceptable and they need to be held accountable.
Look into contracting out the water an sewage upgrades . It would get done faster an no upkeep of heavy equipment
More time for residents to have input. Ensure the link to surveys like this are available and sent to residents who are NOT on social media
Move The Library Downtown as Promised!!!!!!
New council members as well as new mayor
People are really struggling financially right now. It would be great to fund many different projects this year, however think most of all residents need some relief from taxes. The low income tax program is great for those who qualify but even the middle class is hurting and a small break on taxes, or at the very least, not raising taxes, would be best.
Place Region of Queens Municipality into special measures, to include a full investigative audit of expenditure, and enforece federal oversight whilst efficiency measures are put in place.
Properties on lakes and rivers provide a large portion of the tax base for the municipality yet the return in services is very low. Council must strive to balance this and provide more service, facilities, structures etc. The unhappiness with this situation will grow as more and more people live and many retire to these locations.
Queens place is a huge drain and severely underutilized. It’s a beautiful building with so much potential. Sporting Events? Concerts? Someone is being paid for this responsibility. Perhaps consider switching from brand new trucks to a more affordable and appropriate option for management. New cars are alot cheaper than new trucks every year or two! Slap some decals on those puppies too so they can be identifiable, as they should be. Perhaps entertaining the idea of personal vehicle use and a mileage based system like many other forms of Government as management is typically not required to drive often or far. Complete a thorough inventory of all vehicles/equipment. Properly maintain it and keep it updated so there is no wasteful spending. There is an overabundance of management positions in the Region of Queens. Many of which share similar duties. That could be worth taking a look at. A lot of newly created positions over the past year but, for what? Are they absolutely necessary?
Recreation and activities besides sport related. We have beautifully talented residents and never does the Region recognize them or promote sharing their talents with others. Recreation should include the arts and also social gatherings, especially with the demographic of our community.
Reduce staff at municipal office and improve staff/public interaction and morale
Remember we already have some of the highest taxes. Time to start to invest in the core ,it will bring the people. Look at the surrounding towns on the South Shore they are thriving!
Resist companies that harm the beauty and / or environment of Queens County e.g pulp paper and fish pens. If you are going to support housing development it should be housing that Nova Scotians, especially young people can afford. Work with essential volunteer organizations (e.g. Fire departments) so they have equipment that meets standards (all of them not just Liverpool). Also find ways to encourage volunteers e.g. reducing municipal taxes.
Roads Airport Race track New town bridge More Businesses at port mersey and over by emera center and across the highway from the emera center
Setting a long term vision that connects with future opportunities to make Queens prepared to capitalize when opportunity arises. Luck favors the prepared.
The Region needs to seriously look at an alternative water supply. Budgeting for this should be paramount. I realize it will be no easy feat. But with more and more connections to our existing water supply and the fact that we are having more consecutive dry summers. Its an issue if not addresses will eventually lead us to the same state we were in in 1984. And no one wants that to happen.
The town property tax rate needs adjustment. The rate is currently so high, it is making the prospect of buying a home in Liverpool very unattractive. The annual property tax burden makes it unaffordable.
Traffic enforcement!!! Please have bylaw enforcement start ticketing!! The RCMP will not do this
Upgrade the Astor Theatre and Town Hall by way of HVAC system
We need food pantries,or more community cafes,People here need basic things,shelter,food,and compassion.Money put into these would benefit hundreds of people in our small town.Especially,the elderly.
What would really be cool is in the summer if we did a “picnic at the park” families can come sit on a nice day maybe get some local musicians, and can cook burgers and dogs and all that fun stuff. If you were able to get a liquornliscence for the event can be really profitable. And also how about an outdoor movie night for families. Set up a big projector and run 3 movies this summer. I’m sure it would be a hit. Anything to get community members together.
find a proper permanent spot for the library.