News release

Infrastructure Programs Invest $8.7 Million in Nine Communities

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

NOTE: A list of projects follows this release.


Nine Nova Scotia communities will benefit from safer drinking water and improved storm water systems thanks to a shared investment by three levels of government.

Federal, provincial and municipal funding of $8,725,590 was announced today, Aug. 12, in Truro by Karen Casey, Minister of Education, on behalf of Jamie Muir, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations and Peter MacKay, Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

Safer drinking water will be provided through projects in: Digby; Hebron, Municipality of Yarmouth; Middle Musquodoboit, Halifax Regional Municipality; Cornwallis Park, Municipality of Annapolis; Truro; Bible Hill; Municipality of Kings; and Kentville.

In Yarmouth, the storm water system along Starrs Road will be improved.

All projects must receive federal environmental assessment approval before construction begins.

"Today's announcement reflects our commitment to investing in infrastructure that helps build a stronger, more sustainable economy for Nova Scotia," said Ms. Casey. "We are making infrastructure investments that will leave real and lasting benefits to families and their communities."

"This announcement is significant because all of the projects being announced today are green projects, meaning that they involve strategic investments in either water or wastewater initiatives," said Mr. MacKay. "Federal, provincial and municipal governments have been working together to address significant water treatment right across Nova Scotia."

The funding is through the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund and the Building Canada Fund Communities Component.

The Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund is a six-year, $133-million program that supports community infrastructure improvements, such as water, wastewater and solid-waste management. The Building Canada Fund Communities Component is a $111-million investment in infrastructure projects in smaller, communities across Nova Scotia, between now and 2014.

"We are pleased to be a part of a successful partnership bringing much-needed infrastructure investments to Nova Scotia communities," said Robert Wrye, president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities. "The projects being announced today are essential investments that will benefit the residents of nine Nova Scotia communities for many years to come."


The following is a list of projects and funding under the Building Canada Fund-Communities Component.

Town Of Digby: Replacement of water transmission and distribution line. Each level of government is contributing $527,900 to the project to replace a 60-year-old transmission-distribution water main. Almost 1,000 households connected to the municipal water system will have improved drinking water. About 30 households will have improved fire protection.

Hebron, Municipality of Yarmouth: water main extension. Each level of government is contributing $162,100 to the project to extend the Town of Yarmouth's water system to the community of Hebron. A school, 27 households, and the municipal building will be connected to the municipal water system.

Town of Yarmouth: Starrs Road storm sewer. Each level of government is contributing $196,700 to the project, that includes constructing a storm drainage system along Starrs Road to help reduce flooding.

Cornwallis Park, Municipality of Annapolis: water treatment upgrade phase two. Each level of government is contributing $106,000 to the project to install three filters in the Cornwallis Park water treatment facility. About 250 households connected to the municipal water system will have improved drinking water.

Town of Kentville, Elizabeth Avenue: water main replacement. Each level of government is contributing $27,000 to the project that includes replacing the aging water main on Elizabeth Avenue. About 14 households connected to the municipal water system will have improved drinking water.

Town of Truro: water treatment plant and wastewater disposal sewer. Each level of government is contributing $90,000 to the project, that includes constructing a new wastewater pipe from the town's water treatment plant. The town's water treatment plant will comply with provincial drinking water regulations after the project.

Village of Bible Hill and Town of Truro: water distribution phase four. Each level of government is contributing $360,400 to the project that will extend Bible Hill's water distribution system. About 95 households will be connected to the municipal water system.

The following two projects are under the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund.

Middle Musquodoboit, Halifax Regional Municipality: water distribution phase four. Each level of government is contributing $638,430 to the project that includes upgrades to the water treatment plant. About 90 households currently connected to the water system will have improved drinking water.

Municipality of Kings, Balsor and Eaglecrest subdivisions:
central water system. The municipal government is contributing $2,328,140 to the project, and the federal and provincial governments are each investing $35,930 to extend the Town of Kentville's water system to about 130 new households in the Municipality of Kings.