News release

Infrastructure Program Invests in Rural Fire Stations' Well Upgrades

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

Rural fire stations throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) will have improved fire protection and better drinking water, thanks to funding through the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund.

The project includes new or upgraded wells at 32 HRM rural fire stations. These facilities, which are used as shelters in time of emergency, will have improved drinking water that meets Nova Scotia's drinking water standards and improved service reliability.

Federal and provincial funding of $383,328 was announced today, May 11. HRM will fund the balance upon formal acceptance of the agreement and environmental assessment approval.

"Fire stations play a very important role in rural communities as part of the public safety infrastructure and as a venue for community activity," said Peter MacKay, federal Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. "Our government is committed to ensuring that these valuable community resources meet modern standards for health and safety."

"We want to ensure Nova Scotians that they have a safe place to seek shelter during times of emergency, such as Hurricane Juan," said Bill Dooks, Minister of Energy, on behalf of Richard Hurlburt, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "Today's investment is integral to enhancing community infrastructure that is especially valuable during times of emergency."

The infrastructure program supports community infrastructure improvements, such as water, wastewater, and solid waste management.

"From Sheet Harbour to Fall River to Black Point and 28 locations in between, we are very pleased to see this important project move forward," said Peter Kelly, mayor of HRM. "This project, serving rural HRM, is one of our top infrastructure priorities."

The $111-million, six-year Canada-Nova Scotia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund is administered by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation and the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities are members of the management committee.