Support for Communities Across Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia will receive an additional $55 million through the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF) to help municipalities carry out infrastructure projects that support the well-being of their residents.

Earlier this year, the province received more than $58 million through the CCBF program, formerly known as the Gas Tax Fund.

“Modern, reliable infrastructure is important to help ensure our communities are vibrant and healthy. This funding will allow municipalities to invest in public infrastructure that addresses local priorities,” said Municipal Affairs Minister Brendan Maguire. “The last 18 months have been hard on Nova Scotia’s economy. This investment helps municipalities kick-start projects that contribute to economic growth and job creation.”

A wide range of projects are eligible for funding, from energy systems to solid waste to recreational infrastructure. Fire halls and fire-station infrastructure have been recently added as an investment category, further contributing to the program’s objective of building stronger and more resilient communities.

Quotes:

“Cities and towns know best what their communities need – where the gaps are and how best to resolve them. That’s why the federal government is partnering with Nova Scotia to invest in our municipalities through the Canada Community-Building Fund. These funds will build up our communities by improving public transit, roads, broadband access and more. When we work together, we get great things done for Nova Scotians.”

– Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for South Shore-St. Margarets, on behalf of Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“Doubling this fund demonstrates a serious commitment to municipalities and the role they continue to play in COVID economic and social recovery and in building the kinds of communities where people want to live.”

– Mike Savage, mayor, Halifax Regional Municipality

“Since municipalities are responsible for most of our core public infrastructure, this extra helping of funding from the CCBF will allow local governments to invest in priority infrastructure projects, which are critical to delivering essential services in our communities, and supporting the economy and a good quality of life for residents. As the government closest to the people, funding opportunities such as this allow municipalities to be leaders in rebuilding our communities as we work through the impacts of the pandemic.”

– Mayor Amanda McDougall, acting president, Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities

Quick Facts:

• as of June 29, 2021, the Gas Tax Fund was renamed the Canada Community-Building Fund to better reflect the program’s evolution
• the fund is a long-term, indexed source of funding for over 3,600 communities across the country
• communities can use the funds immediately, bank them, combine them with other communities’ funds for shared projects or finance major infrastructure expenditures
• the funding is for the 2021–22 fiscal year

Additional Resources:

More information on how municipalities can use the fund is available at: https://beta.novascotia.ca/federal-gas-tax-fund-municipalities

Infrastructure Canada Projects and Programs (since 2002) for Nova Scotia: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/investments-2002-investissements/ns-eng.html