Nova Scotia Communities Receive First Building Canada Funding

Residents of the Nova Scotia communities of Lyons Brook and Harbourview will benefit from improved drinking water and wastewater treatment thanks to a shared investment by the government of Canada and the government of Nova Scotia. These communities are the first to receive funding under the Communities Component of the Building Canada plan.

The $7.6-million investment, which will be shared between the two communities, was made in Lyons Brook, Pictou Co., today, March 25, by Premier Rodney MacDonald and Peter MacKay, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities.

"Building a strong, healthy province starts at the community level," said the premier. "It is through our continued partnerships that we are able to build for our families now and for the year to come.

"These investments further demonstrate government's commitment to building stronger, more vibrant communities in Nova Scotia and across Canada," said Mr. MacKay. "Today's project, announced under the Building Canada plan, reflects our commitment to improving 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.

Lyons Brook is receiving $2.1 million each from the government of Canada, the province and the Municipality of Pictou County to design and build a wastewater collection system, and to decommission an old treatment plant in nearby Scotsburn. About 250 households with aging septic tanks will have wastewater collected and sent to the Town of Pictou's treatment plant, which is under construction. Eligible project costs are $6.2 million.

The government of Canada, the province of Nova Scotia and the Municipality of the County of Inverness are each contributing $1.7 million to design and construct an extension of the Port Hood water and wastewater systems to the neighboring community of Harbourview. About 70 households will have sewage transported to an upgraded facility and will be added to the Port Hood drinking water system. Eligible project costs are $5.2 million.

"We are pleased to see the continued support and investment in infrastructure at the community level from both the federal and provincial governments," said Robert Wrye, president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities.

Each project will begin after formal acceptance of the agreement and completion of an environmental assessment.

On Nov. 9, 2007, 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, between 2007 and 2014.