Building Canada Funds Flow to Havre Boucher, Antigonish

Residents of Havre Boucher and Antigonish will benefit from improved drinking water and wastewater treatment thanks to a shared investment by the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia under the Communities Component of the Building Canada plan.

The $3.1-million investment, which will be shared between the two communities, was made today, March 27, by Angus MacIsaac, Minister of Economic Development, on behalf of Jamie Muir, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations and Peter MacKay, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

"These investments will help build a strong, healthy and vibrant province at the community level," said Mr. MacIsaac. "We look forward to continuing our partnership with all levels of government to benefit families today and for the years to come."

"Through these investments, the government of Canada is demonstrating its commitment to building stronger and more vibrant communities throughout Nova Scotia and across Canada," said Mr. MacKay. "These projects, announced under the Building Canada plan, demonstrate government's commitment to improving community infrastructure and providing a cleaner environment."

Under the Communities Component of the Building Canada fund, the federal, provincial and municipal governments anticipate investing $111 million in infrastructure projects in smaller communities across Nova Scotia by 2014.

The government of Canada, the province of Nova Scotia and the municipality of Antigonish are each investing $1,435,000 to design and build a new water-treatment facility and expand its wastewater collection system in Havre Boucher. The project will mean about 75 households using aging, malfunctioning on-site sewage systems will have wastewater collected and treated at the new plant. Another 115 households currently connected to the collection system will also have wastewater treated at the new plant. Eligible costs are $4.3 million.

The government of Canada, the province of Nova Scotia and the town of Antigonish are each contributing $153,000 to install 1,100 water meters for customers currently on a flat-rate. The meters will ensure a fair system based on actual water use, as well as provide the town with a true picture of the amount of water treated and distributed. Project costs are $459,000.

"It's great to see both the federal and provincial governments continuing their support and investment in infrastructure at the community level," said Robert Wrye, president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities.

In November the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia signed a framework agreement under Building Canada, which is the government of Canada's $33-billion plan to invest in infrastructure that will support a growing economy, a cleaner environment and stronger communities. Through the framework agreement, the government of Canada is committing to a new investment of more than $634 million towards infrastructure needs in the province by 2014.