The Honourable Lucienne Robillard, President of the Treasury Board of Canada, Minister responsible for Infrastructure and Member of Parliament for Westmount - Ville-Marie, and the Honourable John Hamm, Premier of Nova Scotia and the Hon. Angus MacIsaac, Minister for Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, participated in the formal signing of the six-year Infrastructure Canada-Nova Scotia partnership agreement in Halifax this afternoon. This agreement will mean a total investment of $195.846 million in infrastructure for Nova Scotia, with equal contributions from the federal, provincial and municipal governments.

The Premier and the Ministers agreed the partnership is an excellent example of how different orders of government can work together for the benefit of Canadians.

"We said that we would work with municipalities and the federal government to fund essential infrastructure projects and we're delivering on that promise today," said Premier Hamm. "This Agreement is a major investment in strong communities, in opportunities for Nova Scotians."

"The Infrastructure Canada-Nova Scotia partnership is a reflection of our shared commitment to building a more dynamic economy, and improving quality of life for Canadians in all parts of Canada," said Madame Robillard. The first priority for Infrastructure Canada investment in Nova Scotia, as in the rest of Canada, is green municipal infrastructure. Secondary priorities for the Infrastructure Canada-Nova Scotia program include local transportation, cultural and recreational facilities, infrastructure supporting tourism, rural and remote telecommunications, high-speed Internet access for local public institutions and affordable housing.

"Nova Scotia municipalities have been looking forward to this Agreement," said Minister MacIsaac. "The projects we fund will make our communities even more attractive places for business expansions, potential new investors and for citizens."

Infrastructure Canada has been a "bottom up" program from the beginning, and it will continue to be so. Municipalities will set their own infrastructure priorities, and mechanisms are in place to allow municipalities to be consulted through the life of the program.

"Municipal leaders are pleased with the go-ahead for the Infrastructure Program.," said Anna Allen, President of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities. "Nova Scotians from Sydney to Yarmouth will benefit from this partnership, which will see municipal infrastructure priorities being addressed."

With the signing of the agreement, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) takes responsibility for federal involvement in the implementation of Infrastructure Canada in Nova Scotia, under the direction of implementing minister the Hon. George Baker, Secretary of State for ACOA.

The infrastructure agreement will be managed for the province by Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. The Infrastructure Canada-Nova Scotia agreement provides for the establishment of a joint management committee to administer the program, and recommend projects for funding. As part of its commitment to undertake initiatives that make a long-term contribution to a dynamic economy, the federal government has allocated $2.65 billion for its share of a new, cost-shared physical infrastructure program. Infrastructure Canada deals with municipal infrastructure. A strategic highways component, with funding of up to $600 million of the total allocation, is administered by Transport Canada.

Through the Infrastructure Canada partnership, federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments will invest a total of $6 billion in municipal infrastructure in urban and rural communities across Canada.

Chantal Scarlett
Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
(613) 957-2391

Russell Milon
Press Secretary 
Office of the President of the
Treasury Board of Canada 
and Minister Responsible for 
Infrastructure
(613) 957-2666
	
Rick Alexander
(904) 424-6336
e-mail: alexanrj@gov.ns.ca

Infrastructure Canada - Program Fact Sheet

In the last Budget, the Government of Canada announced $2.65 billion for physical infrastructure. Of this amount, up to $600 million will be allocated to strategic highways infrastructure to be administered by Transport Canada. With contributions from our provincial, territorial and municipal partners, and the private sector, Infrastructure Canada will generate at least $6 billion in total infrastructure investment.

The Government of Canada will contribute up to one-third of the cost of individual projects. This contribution could be higher in some instances, as long as Government of Canada funding does not exceed one-third of the total cost of projects funded in a given fiscal year.

The Infrastructure Canada program is based on partnerships with provincial and territorial governments and municipal associations. All levels of government have played an important part in the design of this new program.

Infrastructure Canada has been designed with a bottom-up approach. Accordingly, Municipalities will play an important role in the program. The majority of projects will be selected from proposals submitted by municipalities to ensure that the most pressing local needs will be addressed. The federal and provincial governments may also propose projects, up to a maximum of 20 per cent of the Infrastructure Canada funds, to ensure that regional projects, involving more than one municipality, are not overlooked.

Initial consultations with provinces and territories, municipal associations and other stakeholders confirmed a commitment on the part of all jurisdictions to make a long- term contribution to improving the quality of life and building a more dynamic economy for Canadians. Infrastructure Canada's first priority is green municipal infrastructure. Investments within the "green" envelope will include projects related to water and wastewater systems, water management, solid waste management and recycling, and capital expenditures to retrofit or improve the energy efficiency of buildings and facilities owned by Local Governments.

Secondary priorities of the program include local transportation, cultural and recreational facilities, infrastructure supporting tourism, rural and remote telecommunications, high-speed Internet access for local public institutions and affordable housing.

As a next step towards the implementation of the Infrastructure Canada program, a management committee will be established in each jurisdiction, with equal representation from the federal and provincial or territorial governments. The management committee will accept and process project applications submitted by municipal governments in each jurisdiction. Information about how to submit project applications will be available soon.

For More Information:

Visit the Infrastructure Canada Web Site: http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/ino-bni Call the Government of Canada Information line (toll free): 1 8OO O-Canada (1 800 622-6232) TTY/TDD 1 800 465-7735