Canada and Nova Scotia invest in healthcare and long term care facilities to respond to the impacts of COVID-19

From: Infrastructure Canada

News release

Nova Scotia, May 27, 2021—The health and safety of Canadians are top priorities for the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia. Communities across Canada are on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic, and need immediate assistance to ensure their public infrastructure is safe and reliable.

That is why governments have been taking decisive action to support families, businesses and communities, and continue to look ahead to see what more can be done in these unprecedented times. 

Today, the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for South Shore—St. Margarets, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Zach Churchill, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Health and Wellness, announced funding for seven projects that will renovate and rehabilitate several healthcare and long term care facilities across the province. Lenore Zann, Member of Parliament for Cumberland—Colchester; Mike Kelloway, Member of Parliament for Cape Breton—Canso; Darrell Samson, Member of Parliament for Sackville—Preston—Chezzetcook; the Honourable Suzanne Lohnes-Croft, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage; and Rafah DiConstanzo, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Clayton Park West, were also in attendance.

Seven projects will see upgrades and repairs to hospitals and health care centres, these include the Yarmouth Regional Hospital, Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre, Colchester East Hants Health Centre, Glace Bay Hospital, Nova Scotia Hospital and Veterans Memorial Building, Valley Regional Hospital, and Aberdeen Hospital. These projects will improve patient and staff safety and provide a healthier, more sustainable environment in these healthcare facilities for years to come.

Today’s investments will also allow for important upgrades at 33 long term care facilities across the province. In total, 39 projects will undergo building and system upgrades to improve living environments and increase safety for residents and staff.

The Government of Canada is investing over $11.4 million dollars in these projects through the COVID-19 Resilience Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of Nova Scotia is contributing more than $2.8 million.

Quotes

“COVID-19 has exposed serious needs in our health and long term care services, and our government is partnering with provinces and territories to close those gaps now. Through the COVID-19 Resilience Stream, we’re going to make critical repairs and upgrades to forty health and long term care facilities across Nova Scotia. Canada’s infrastructure plan will continue to invest in thousands of projects, to create jobs across the country and build safer, more livable communities in every region of this country."

The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for South Shore—St. Margarets, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how critical it is to invest in long term care and health care infrastructure. These infrastructure upgrades are about keeping our communities healthy and safe now and in the future. Nova Scotia is proud to partner with the Government of Canada in this investment that will improve quality of care for many Nova Scotians across the province.”

The Honourable Zach Churchill, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Health and Wellness

Quick facts

  • Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada’s rural and northern communities.

  • To support Canadians and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a COVID-19 Resilience Stream has been added to the over $33-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories. 

  • Under the COVID-19 Resilience Stream, the federal cost share for public infrastructure projects is 80 per cent in the provinces, and 100 per cent in the territories and for projects intended for Indigenous communities.

  • To support smaller-scale projects, the Canada Healthy Communities Initiative is providing up to $31 million in existing federal funding to help communities adapt spaces and services to respond to immediate and ongoing needs arising from COVID-19 over the next two years.

  • The Government of Canada has invested over $832 million in 206 infrastructure projects across Nova Scotia under the Investing in Canada plan.

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Contacts

Chantalle Aubertin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-941-0660
Chantalle.Aubertin@canada.ca

Marla MacInnis
Media Relations Advisor
Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness
902-499-6428
Marla.MacInnis@novascotia.ca

Media Relations
Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
Email: infc.media.infc@canada.ca
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