Trenton, Nova Scotia, December 7, 2013 – Pictou County residents will soon benefit from important improvements to water, wastewater and road infrastructure, thanks to joint funding initiatives announced today by the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, and Terry Farrell, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Cumberland North.
This significant joint investment will result in important upgrades to water utilities in the Town of Pictou, which will include refurbishing the water tower, replacing the distribution line and other drinking water related infrastructure. In the Town of Trenton, approximately 565 metres of combined sewers will be separated, and approximately 9 kilometers of Highway 348 in Pictou County, from Blue Acres to Springville/Churchville line, will be repaved.
"Our Government is proud to contribute to the joint $2.75 million investment provided through the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund for these three important infrastructure initiatives in Nova Scotia. This once again shows our commitment to help ensure Canadian communities remain among the best in the world to live,"
said Minister MacKay. "Our investments in significant water, wastewater and road infrastructure initiatives are important drivers of economic growth and job creation in Pictou County and across Nova Scotia."
"We recognize the value of investing in infrastructure projects to improve the quality of life for our residents,"
said MLA Farrell, on behalf of Mark Furey, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. "We are pleased to work with the federal and municipal governments to create healthier and safer communities."
Government partners today announced that these three initiatives will receive an investment of $3.09 million, $2.75 million in joint funding towards eligible costs through the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund and an additional $342,000 invested by the Towns of Trenton and Pictou for the combined sewer separation and the water utility upgrades initiatives. These three initiatives were identified as funding priorities in Nova Scotia's 2010-11 Provincial-Territorial Base Fund Capital Plan.
"Infrastructure is the biggest concern for small communities today. This support by our federal and provincial counterparts is essential to our sustainability,"
said Trenton Mayor Glen MacKinnon. "The Town of Trenton is very appreciative of the continued support from our federal and provincial partners. This is a very good day for our town as we continue phase two of our storm sewer separation plan."
The funding being announced today plays a significant part in the Town of Pictou's plan for drinking water infrastructure upgrades.
"This investment will go a long way to completing phase 1 and Pictou looks forward to a continued partnership with the federal and provincial governments to see the project through to completion,"
said Pictou Mayor Joe Hawes. "On behalf of our residents, I would like to thank the federal and provincial representatives for their continued interest and support for this important part of public infrastructure."
Under the Building Canada plan, Canada and Nova Scotia have partnered to provide strategic funding for priority infrastructure needs. Through the Provincial-Territorial Base Fund, the Government of Canada is providing $175 million to strengthen infrastructure in Nova Scotia.
Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013 is delivering $70 billion for public infrastructure, including a $53 billion New Building Canada Plan to build roads, bridges, subways, commuter rail, and other public infrastructure in cooperation with provinces, territories, and municipalities. Thanks to the Government of Canada's leadership and our strong economic and financial fundamentals, the Canadian economy has recovered from the global recession better than most other industrialized countries. Canada has been a leader among G-7 countries throughout the recovery with more than 1 million net new jobs created since July 2009. The New Building Canada Plan, combined with other federal infrastructure investments, will support Canada's infrastructure advantage, a key enabler of economic growth and job creation.
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
Cathy MacGillivray
Chief Administrative Officer
Town of Trenton
902-752-5311 (office)
902-754-2228 (cell)
Scott Conrod, CMA
Chief Administrative Officer
Town of Pictou
902-485-4372 (office)
902-396-6988 (cell)
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
