News release

$111 Million To Be Invested In Rural Nova Scotia

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

Residents of small Nova Scotia communities can look forward to cleaner water and better waste management thanks to a $111-million investment by all three levels of government.

Over the next seven years, the federal, provincial and municipal governments will invest in infrastructure through the communities component of the new Building Canada Fund, which will help meet local infrastructure needs and priorities.

The deadline for municipalities to submit applications, available at www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/muns/infr/bcf.asp , is Jan. 30. Eligible categories for the first round of funding are water, wastewater and solid-waste infrastructure projects.

The announcement was made today, Dec. 21, by Peter MacKay, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), on behalf of Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and Jamie Muir, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.

"I'm excited to be making this announcement today as this represents a significant step forward in implementing our Building Canada plan in Nova Scotia and, in fact, in Canada," said Mr. MacKay. "The communities component of Building Canada will provide funding for infrastructure projects in communities with populations of less than 100,000 -- helping these communities meet their unique challenges and, in turn, making Nova Scotia's economy stronger and contributing to a cleaner environment."

The total federal funding allocation for Nova Scotia under the communities component is $37 million. The money comes from the $235.68 million the federal government is providing the province through the Building Canada fund. Under the terms of the Canada/Nova Scotia Building Canada Framework Agreement, the province will match the federal contribution for the communities component. The Building Canada fund is one element of the overall Building Canada plan. Over seven years, Building Canada will focus on a variety of infrastructure investments that contribute to cleaner air, water and land.

"Targeted rural funding will continue our efforts to build stronger communities across Nova Scotia," said Mr. Muir. "Through this partnership, we are building for our children and families, now and in the future."

"We are pleased to see that both the federal and provincial governments recognize the need to continue to invest in infrastructure in our communities," said Robert Wrye, president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities.

The communities component of the Building Canada fund will be administered by Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations and ACOA.

Through the $33-billion Building Canada infrastructure plan, the federal government will provide long-term, stable and predictable funding to help meet infrastructure needs across Canada. Building Canada will support a stronger, safer and better country.

On Nov. 9, the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia announced the signing of a framework agreement under Building Canada worth $634.38 million.

For more information on the Building Canada plan, visit www.buildingcanada.gc.ca.