News release

Eight Southwestern Communities Receive Infrastructure Funding

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

Residents in areas of Kings, Annapolis, Yarmouth and Digby counties will soon have improved water, wastewater and solid-waste management systems thanks to investments from the Canada-Nova Scotia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund.

Federal and provincial funding of more than $2.8 million was announced today, June 18, by the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia. The municipalities will fund the balance of the project costs. The projects will improve potable water quality for more than 1,800 households, and 2,400 households will have wastewater treated to a higher level.

The projects in Bridgetown, Digby and Annapolis Royal will focus on improving drinking-water quality. The projects will help the communities meet new provincial water standards through new reservoirs, water-quality monitoring equipment and water-main replacements.

Work in Argyle, Bear River, Berwick and Kingston will concentrate on waste-water systems. These projects will include upgrades of pumping stations, installation or replacement of sanitary and storm sewers, and the extension of a sewage treatment plant outfall.

The first-generation landfill in Meteghan will also be closed. Funding will help install the final cell cover and complete work on the site to minimize infiltration.

"Community infrastructure, such as improving our drinking water and waste systems, is a priority for government," said Chris d'Entremont, Minister of Health, on behalf of Jamie Muir, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "These projects will contribute to the quality of life for residents, as well as protecting the environment."

"Our federal government is working with its partners to get things done for the people of Southwestern Nova Scotia," said Senator Gerald Comeau, on behalf of Peter MacKay, Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. "The combined federal investment of more than $1,411,000 will strengthen the area's community infrastructure and way of life."

The infrastructure program supports improvements of water, wastewater and solid-waste management.

"Our federal and provincial partners are responding to municipal infrastructure needs," said Russell Walker, president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities. "I'm pleased they are working with municipalities to plan for the future and to better protect our citizens and our environment."

Today's $2.8-million investment is part of the $111-million, six-year Canada-Nova Scotia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, which 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 program management committee.