Building Canada Funding Provided To Three Cape Sable Island Communities

March 31, 2008

Residents of three Nova Scotia communities on Cape Sable Island will benefit from improved wastewater treatment thanks to a shared investment by the Government of Canada and the Government of Nova Scotia. The improvements are being funded under the Communities Component of the Building Canada plan.

The $4.2 million investment was announced today by Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and by Chris d’Entremont, Nova Scotia Minister of Health.

“This investment reflects our government’s commitment to building stronger, more vibrant communities in Nova Scotia and across Canada,” said Mr. Keddy. “This new water collection and treatment system will benefit hundreds of households on Cape Sable Island and help ensure cleaner ground water.”

“This project we are announcing today is a tangible result of the partnerships between our government and communities,” said Mr. d’Entremont. “By investing in projects like this, we are making an investment in a prosperous and greener future for Nova Scotia.”

The Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia and the Municipality of Barrington are each contributing $2,146,000 for the design and construction of a new water collection and treatment system for the communities of Newellton, Centreville and North East Point. The project will mean approximately 375 households and 14 businesses will no longer depend on aging on-site sewage disposal systems. The new system will lessen the impact wastewater has had on ground and surface water, and the surrounding ocean.

“It is great to get the go-ahead on this important project,” said Louise Halliday, Warden of the Municipality of the District of Barrington. “Delivering efficient wastewater services to the residents of Cape Sable Island is our number one priority.”

On November 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 infrastructure plan that will support a growing economy, a cleaner environment and stronger communities. Through the agreement, the Government of Canada is committing to a new investment of just over $634 million towards infrastructure needs in the province, between 2007 and 2014.

Under the Communities Component of the Building Canada fund, the federal, provincial and municipal governments anticipate investing $111 million in infrastructure projects in communities of less than 100,000 across Nova Scotia, between now and 2014.