Gerald Keddy, MP for South Shore - St. Margaret's and Vicki Conrad, MLA for Queens share a laugh with Department of Transportation staff following their joint highway announcement in Liverpool.
 

Stimulus funding will continue to create jobs, boost local economy

Liverpool, Nova Scotia – Nova Scotia drivers will soon benefit from improved highways thanks to a partnership between the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia. Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament for South Shore-St. Margaret’s, and Vicki Conrad, MLA and Ministerial Assistant, on behalf of Bill Estabrooks, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, today announced that Canada and Nova Scotia will jointly contribute $4.5 million towards two highway improvement projects in the province.

“Canada’s Economic Action Plan is working to ensure that Nova Scotia comes out of this period of economic uncertainty stronger than ever before,” said MP Keddy. “As we enter the second phase of this Plan, our government will continue the rapid implementation of important infrastructure stimulus projects. At the same time we are building a strong foundation for job creation and economic growth in the future.”
 
“We are committed to maximizing federal funding for important infrastructure projects in Nova Scotia,” said MLA Conrad. “Today’s announcement means that all funding under the infrastructure stimulus program has been committed to roads and other important infrastructure improvements across the province.”
 
The two projects being funded will include repaving on Highway 103 from Broad River to St. Catherine’s River Road and repaving approximately 10 km of Route 331 to Volgers Cove. These upgrades and rehabilitation projects will improve safety, security and travel times for Nova Scotia drivers.

Canada is contributing $2.25 million under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund to support these initiatives, with Nova Scotia matching the federal contribution. The total estimated eligible cost of these two initiatives is $4.5 million.

Federal financial support comes from the $4-billion, Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, which provides funding to provincial, territorial, municipal and community construction-ready infrastructure projects that can be completed by March 31, 2011.