$111 million in Funding for Nova Scotia Municipal Infrastructure

Nova Scotia communities will benefit from improved municipal and rural infrastructure under a new six-year, federal-provincial agreement announced today, Nov. 24.

Federal Fisheries and Oceans Minister Geoff Regan and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister Barry Barnet were in Upper Tantallon for the announcement of the agreement which, together with municipal contributions, will invest $111 million in municipal and rural community infrastructure.

"Today's announcement is a testament of what can be achieved through partnerships between all orders of government," said Mr. Regan on behalf of John Godfrey, Minister of State for Infrastructure and Communities, and Joseph McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. "It is also a prime example of the work that is currently being done by the government of Canada. Through the New Deal for Cities and Communities, the government of Canada is working with provinces and territories to provide municipalities and communities right across the country, and indeed in Nova Scotia, with the tools they need to ensure their sustainability."

Both the federal and provincial governments are providing up to $37 million to the Canada-Nova Scotia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, which will provide funding for projects in 10 categories. The categories range from water and wastewater to transit, local roads, tourism and culture. At least 60 per cent of the funds will be committed to green projects.

"Communities big and small across Nova Scotia will become stronger as a result of this program," Mr. Barnet said. "Investing in community infrastructure is an investment in the future of Nova Scotia. With our federal and municipal partners, the government of Nova Scotia is helping our communities grow and prosper."

Under the agreement, 20 per cent of the project funds will be allocated to Halifax County and 80 per cent to the other 17 counties. Up to one per cent of these allocations will be available to help municipalities improve and increase their capacity to manage their infrastructure assets. For example, this funding could be used to help communities enhance knowledge about their infrastructure assets, better evaluate life-cycle costs associated with infrastructure they own and operate, better assess the capacity of current infrastructure and identify future needs, and train municipal staff in long-term infrastructure management.

"Municipalities are pleased that the program is moving forward and will see further investment in our communities' infrastructure," said Richie Cotton, president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities. "The model of federal-provincial-municipal cost-sharing allows the projects to move quickly from the design phase to construction. Today's announcement will be welcomed by Nova Scotia's 55 municipalities."

The agreement will be administered by Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, on behalf of the government of Nova Scotia, and by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of Infrastructure Canada. Two officials nominated by the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities will also be part of the management committee.

This agreement builds on investments under the government of Canada's New Deal for Cities and Communities program, including the goods and services tax rebate of $7 billion over 10 years; $5 billion over five years in gas tax funding across Canada; and $800 million over two years for public transit. The Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund is providing $4 billion nationally, the Border Infrastructure Fund represents $600 million, and the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund will provide $1 billion.

For additional information on this and other infrastructure programs administered by the government of Canada and by the government of Nova Scotia, visit the website at www.infrastructure.gc.ca or www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr .