News release

$8 Million Sydney Harbour Project to Improve Local Environment

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations (Oct. 2000 - March 2014)

SERVICE N.S./MUNICIPAL RELATIONS--$8 Million Sydney Harbour Project to Improve Local Environment


Residents in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality can look forward to improvements to the quality of Sydney Harbour water with the construction of a sewage treatment plant to be funded through the Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program.

Federal and provincial funding of $5,364,738 was announced today, Aug. 9, by Economic Development Minister Cecil Clarke, on behalf of Angus MacIsaac, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, and MP Mark Eyking, on behalf of Gerry Byrne, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. The Cape Breton Regional Municipality will fund the remaining $2,682,368 upon formal acceptance of the agreement.

"The Sydney Harbour cleanup will definitely have a great impact on the health and environment of the community," said Mr. Clarke. "The completion of this project will greatly improve the quality and appearance of the harbour and will benefit Sydney's environment."

The first priority under the infrastructure program is green municipal infrastructure that will ensure effective wastewater management and safe drinking water. The majority of the federal and provincial funding is being directed to green projects like the Sydney Harbour sewage treatment plant.

"The Government of Canada is making infrastructure a top priority in our communities," said Mr. Eyking. "By investing in the cleanup of Sydney Harbour through the Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program, we are investing in green projects that will improve our quality of life through safe drinking water and a cleaner environment."

The sewage treatment facility project is part of an overall wastewater management plan for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. It will treat sewage to levels that are acceptable for safe discharge into Sydney Harbour.

"The Cape Breton Regional Municipality is committed to providing an environmentally-sound method of managing the area's wastewater and improving the condition of Sydney Harbour," said John Morgan, mayor of the regional municipality. "An extensive environmental review provided the plan and the infrastructure program's partnership is now making a component of that plan a reality."

This project is one of a series of approval announcements under the Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program totalling more than $92 million to date. Additional announcements are expected as projects undergo environmental assessment and final approval.

The $195-million, six-year Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program is administered by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation is a member of the management committee. The Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities is represented on the program's management committee.