Residents of Mahone Bay, Lunenburg, and Shelburne can look forward to improved drinking water, thanks to funding through the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund.

Each of the projects respond to municipal and program priorities, including the design and construction of new water treatment plants for the Town of Mahone Bay and the Town of Lunenburg, and completion of the final phase of the Town of Shelburne’s water treatment facility. These projects will provide improved drinking water to more than 1,600 households. Federal and provincial funding of $4,109,858 was announced today, August 14. The Town of Mahone Bay, the Town of Lunenburg, and the Town of Shelburne will fund the balance upon formal acceptance of the agreements and environmental assessment approvals.

"Through the Nova Scotia Drinking Water Strategy, our government is committed to providing safe drinking water to all Nova Scotians,” said Michael Baker, Minister of Finance, on behalf of Jamie Muir, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. “In communities across Nova Scotia, like the towns of Mahone Bay, Lunenburg and Shelburne, our investments are helping municipalities take the steps needed to make our communities a better place to live, work and raise our families.”

“We are building stronger communities by modernizing our infrastructure. Canada’s new Government is helping provide a high quality of life for all our citizens and protecting the environment,” said Gerald Keddy, Member of Parliament for South Shore-St. Margaret’s, on behalf of the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of ACOA.

The infrastructure program supports community infrastructure improvements, such as water, wastewater, and solid waste management.
"Today’s announcement is a great example of all three levels of government working together for the benefit of our residents,” said Richard Cotton, President of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities. “Our federal and provincial partners recognize that safe drinking water and reliable water treatment facilities are vital infrastructure elements that make a real difference in the quality of life of Nova Scotians.”

The $111 million, six-year Canada-Nova Scotia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund is administered by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation and the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities are also members of the management committee.

Deborah Bayer
Canada Nova Scotia Infrastructure Secretariat
(902) 424-0112

Chris Brooks
ACOA NS Communications
(902) 426-4790