People in Clayton Park and surrounding area of Halifax Regional Municipality will soon benefit from a new swimming pool and a multi-purpose centre thanks to additional funding through the Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure program.

The facilities are part of the Mainland Commons recreation project, which will receive an additional $525,000 from the Province of Nova Scotia and $158,000 from the Government of Canada. These investments are in addition to the $2 million announced by the federal and provincial governments in May 2004. The remaining costs associated with this $8 million project will be the responsibility of the municipality.

Due to a two-year extension of the Mainland Commons project, further planning to address the needs of the community is now possible.

The funding was announced today, August 24, by Barry Barnet, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations and federal Fisheries and Oceans Minister Geoff Regan, on behalf of Joseph McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

“The Province of Nova Scotia is pleased to be able to increase its support for the Mainland Commons project,” said Minister Barnet. “This is a rapidly expanding part of metro and is in need of additional recreational facilities.” "Government of Canada investments in projects such as the Mainland Commons are working to improve the quality of life for all Nova Scotians,” said Minister Regan. “It is part of our ongoing commitment to helping communities grow and prosper.”

Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly said the increased support is welcome news for HRM. “The capital city area is growing by leaps and bounds and it is fitting that the federal and provincial governments recognize the importance of investing in municipal infrastructure,” said the Mayor.

To date, almost $210 million has been invested in 143 projects through the program. The project announced today represents one of the final allocations of funding under the Canada Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program. The six-year Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program is administered by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation is a member of the management committee. The Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities is represented on the program's management committee. -30- ------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------ FOR BROADCAST USE: Additional funding is being made available for the Halifax Regional Municipality's Mainland Commons project. The recreational facilities project is receiving an additional 525-thousand dollars from the province and 158- thousand dollars from the federal government, through the Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program. The funding was announced today by Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister Barry Barnet and federal Fisheries Minister Geoff Regan. The Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program is an investment in municipal infrastructure administered by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. -30-

Contact:

Deborah Bayer
Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Secretariat 
(902-424-0112 
 E-mail: bayerdj@gov.ns.ca 
	
Valérie Poulin
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
613-941-7241

David Harrigan  
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency 
902-426-4238

John O’Brien
HRM Communications
(902) 490-6531