Residents of the Nova Scotia communities of Havre Boucher and Antigonish will benefit from improved drinking water and wastewater treatment thanks to a shared investment by the Government of Canada and the Government of Nova Scotia under the Communities Component of the Building Canada plan.

The $3.1 million investment, which will be shared between the two communities, was made today by the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, and by Angus MacIsaac, Nova Scotia Minister of Economic Development.

“Through these investments, the Government of Canada is demonstrating its commitment to building stronger and more vibrant communities throughout Nova Scotia and across Canada,” said Minister MacKay. “These projects, announced under our Building Canada plan, demonstrate our Government’s commitment to improving community infrastructure and providing a cleaner environment.”

“These investments will help build a strong, healthy and vibrant province at the community level,” said Mr. MacIsaac. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with all levels of government to benefit families today and for the years to come.”

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

The Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia and the Municipality of Antigonish are each investing $1,435,000 to design and build a new water treatment facility and expand its wastewater collection system in Havre Boucher. The project will mean approximately 75 households currently using aging, malfunctioning on-site sewage systems will have their wastewater collected and treated at the new plant. Another 115 households currently connected to the collection system will also have their wastewater treated at the new plant. The total eligible costs are $4.3 million.

The Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia and the Town of Antigonish are each contributing $153,000 to install water meters in 1100 water utility customers currently on a flat rate system. The metering system will ensure a fair and equitable means of measuring actual water use as well as provide the town with a true picture of the amount of water treated and distributed. The total project costs are $459,000.

“It’s great to see both the federal and provincial governments continuing their support and investment in infrastructure at the community level,” said Robert Wrye, president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities.

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 plan to invest in infrastructure that will support a growing economy, a cleaner environment and stronger communities. Through the framework 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.

FOR BROADCAST USE:

The federal and provincial governments today announced funding for two Nova Scotia communities under the Building Canada fund.

Havre Boucher and the Town of Antigonish will receive $3.1 million for water and wastewater projects.

Over the next seven years, federal, provincial and municipal governments anticipate investing $111 million in infrastructure projects in smaller communities across Nova Scotia.

The announcement was made in Havre Boucher by ACOA Minister Peter MacKay and Nova Scotia Minister of Economic Development, Angus MacIsaac.

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INFORMATION:

Deborah Bayer
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
902 424 0112
Cell: 902 225 4982
E mail: bayerdj@gov.ns.ca

David Harrigan
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902 426 4238
E mail: david.harrigan@acoa apeca.gc.ca