UPPER TANTALLON, Nova Scotia - Nova Scotia communities
will benefit from improved municipal and rural infrastructure under a new
six-year federal-provincial agreement announced today.Fisheries
and Oceans Canada Minister, the Honourable Geoff Regan, and Service Nova
Scotia and Municipal Relations Minister, the Honourable Barry Barnet, were
in Upper Tantallon for the announcement of the agreement which, together
with municipal contributions, will invest $111 million in municipal and
rural community infrastructure.
"Today's announcement is a testament of what can be achieved through
partnerships between all orders of government," said Minister Regan on
behalf of John Godfrey, Minister of State for Infrastructure and
Communities and Joseph McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada
Opportunities Agency. "It is also a prime example of the work that is
currently being done by the Government of Canada. Through the New Deal for
Cities and Communities, the Government of Canada is working with provinces
and territories to provide municipalities and communities right across the
country, and indeed in Nova Scotia, with the tools they need to ensure
their sustainability." Both the federal and provincial governments
are providing up to $37 million to the Canada-Nova Scotia Municipal Rural
Infrastructure Fund, which will provide funding for projects in 10
categories. The categories range from water and wastewater to
transit, local roads, tourism and culture. At least 60 per cent of the
funds will be committed to green projects. "Communities big and
small across Nova Scotia will become stronger as a result of this
program," Minister Barnet said. "Investing in community
infrastructure is an investment in the future of Nova Scotia. With
our federal and municipal partners, the Government of Nova Scotia is
helping our communities grow and prosper." Under the agreement, 20
per cent of project funds will be allocated to Halifax County and 80 per
cent to the other 17 counties. Up to 1 per cent of these allocations will
be available to help municipalities improve and increase their capacity to
manage their infrastructure assets. For example, this funding could be
used to help communities enhance knowledge about their infrastructure
assets, better evaluate life-cycle costs associated with infrastructure
they own and operate, better assess the capacity of current infrastructure
and identify future needs, and train municipal staff in long-term
infrastructure management. "Municipalities are pleased that the
program is moving forward and will see further investment in our
communities' infrastructure," said Richie Cotton, President of the Union
of Nova Scotia Municipalities. "The model of federal-provincial-municipal
cost-sharing allows the projects to move quickly from the design phase to
construction. Today's announcement will be welcomed by Nova Scotia's 55
municipalities." The agreement will be administered by Service
Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, on behalf of the Government of Nova
Scotia, and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, on behalf of
Infrastructure Canada. Two officials nominated by the UNSM will also be
part of the Management Committee.
This agreement builds on investments under the Government of Canada's
New Deal for Cities and Communities including the Goods and Services Tax
rebate of $7 billion over 10 years; $5 billion over five years in gas tax
funding across Canada; and $800 million over two years for public transit.
The Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund is providing $4 billion
nationally, the Border Infrastructure Fund represents $600 million, and
the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund will provide $1 billion across
Canada.
For additional information on this and other infrastructure programs
administered by the Government of Canada and by the Government of Nova
Scotia, visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/
or www.gov.ns.ca Please see the attached backgrounder for more
information.
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Contacts:
Sujata RaisinghaniPress SecretaryOffice of the
MinisterFisheries and Oceans CanadaOttawa(613)
992-3474
David HarriganAtlantic Canada
OpportunitiesAgency(902) 426-4238
David MacNeilService Nova Scotia and Municipal
Relations902 424-6336
Infrastructure CanadaCommunications and
Promotion(613) 948-1148
BACKGROUNDER
Canada-Nova ScotiaMunicipal
Rural Infrastructure Fund Agreement
The Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund is a $1 billion national
initiative designed to help meet the Government of Canada's commitment to
ensure that Canadian communities, large and small, are sustainable,
competitive and healthy centres for economic growth and innovation.
The Canada-Nova Scotia Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund Agreement
(Canada-Nova Scotia MRIF) will mean an investment of $111 million for
municipal and rural infrastructure in this province, with contributions
from federal, provincial and municipal governments. The Governments
of Canada and Nova Scotia will each invest up to $37 million towards the
Canada-Nova Scotia MRIF. Each municipality is also expected to
provide one-third of eligible project costs.
The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia have also agreed that at
least 60 per cent of the funding available under this program will go to
"green" projects that improve the quality of the environment and
contribute to cleaner air, soil and water. Green projects include water,
wastewater, solid waste, public transit, and environmental energy
improvements. Other eligible project categories will be local roads,
cultural, recreational and tourism infrastructure, and broadband
connectivity.
Under the agreement, 20 per cent of project funds will be allocated to
Halifax County and 80 per cent to the other 17 counties.
Projects for the Canada-Nova Scotia MRIF will be recommended to
Ministers for approval by the joint federal-provincial Management
Committee, which includes representation from the Union of Nova Scotia
Municipalities.
The Agreement will run from the date of the signing of the agreement
and will end on March 31, 2012.
The MRIF builds on the success and lessons learned from previous
programs, especially the $2.05 billion Infrastructure Canada Program, and
complements programs such as the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund,
which addresses larger infrastructure needs, primarily in urban
areas. The Halifax Harbour Clean-up is one example of a project
funded under the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund.
For further information on Canada and Nova Scotia infrastructure
programs, visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/
or http://www.gov.ns.ca/.
