Project made possible through the federal Gas Tax Fund
Bear River, Nova Scotia, November 30, 2013 – Wastewater treatment in Bear River will soon receive cost-effective improvements thanks to the federal Gas Tax Fund. Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova; the Honourable Leo Glavine, Minister of Health and Wellness; and Reg Ritchie, Warden for the County of Annapolis, gathered today in Bear River to announce funding for wastewater improvements, the result of an important partnership between the Municipality of the County of Annapolis and the Municipality of the District of Digby.
"Our Government is proud to invest in safe and reliable wastewater infrastructure which not only reduces maintenance costs, saves energy and protects the environment, but also contributes to the health and well-being of Nova Scotia residents,"
said MP Kerr, on behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec. "Federal investments in infrastructure projects through the Gas Tax Fund transfer, like the one we are announcing today in Bear River, demonstrate our Government's continued commitment to creating jobs, growth and long-term prosperity."
"It is important that we invest in our municipal infrastructure, like these changes to the wastewater treatment system, so we can reduce our impact on the environment,"
said Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine, on behalf of Mark Furey, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "I am pleased the different levels of government are able to work together to make these improvements that will benefit the residents and the community in the years ahead."
This important infrastructure project will involve flowing wastewater from the community of Bear River in Annapolis County to a new regional wastewater treatment facility in the District of Digby.
"Pooling of resources instead of competing for resources results in improved economic and community development for both areas,"
said Annapolis County Warden Reg Ritchie. "We are eliminating boundaries and working together to benefit residents. We want to thank the federal and provincial governments and the Municipality of the District of Digby for their continued partnership and collaboration."
"Municipal units are experiencing drastic change,"
said District of Digby Warden Linda Gregory. "Our demographics are changing and, in some instances, population is declining. There is also a continuing need to invest in our communities and provide services. With limited funds, we must prioritize and think differently to maintain sustainable government."
The federal Gas Tax Fund transfer provides long-term funding to municipalities across the country to build and revitalize their local infrastructure. The Government of Canada has now made the Gas Tax Fund a permanent source of funding. The Fund that will grow from its current $2 billion per year to reflect indexing established in Economic Action Plan 2013, which also provided increased flexibility on how the money can be used to address local infrastructure priorities. The Government of Canada provides close to $56 million in annual funding for municipal infrastructure in Nova Scotia. The County of Annapolis is directing just over $100,000 of its federal Gas Tax Fund allocation towards this project. To date, the Government of Canada has made over $5,363,635 available to Annapolis County through the Gas Tax Fund to improve local infrastructure.
For additional information about federal investments in infrastructure, visit Infrastructure Canada or follow us on Twitter @INFC_eng.
For further information about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit Canada's Economic Action Plan.
For additional information, please contact:
Marie-Josée Paquette
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, and
Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec
613-943-1838
Tracy Barron
Media Relations Advisor
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
902-424-2733
E-mail: barrontb@gov.ns.ca
Nadine Barteaux, Communications Coordinator
County of Annapolis
902-532-0232 (w); 902-526-2907 (cell)
nbarteaux@annapoliscounty.ca
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
