Nova Scotia students and staff to benefit from school improvements across the province

News release

Halifax, Nova Scotia, June 2, 2021—The health and safety of Canadians are top priorities for the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia. Communities across Canada are on the frontlines 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, Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament for Halifax, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Iain Rankin, Premier of Nova Scotia, announced funding to improve schools within eight Nova Scotia Centres for Education. The Honourable Derek Mombourquette, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Sydney—Whitney Pier, Jaime Battiste, Member of Parliament for Sydney—Victoria, Mike Kelloway, Member of Parliament for Cape Breton-Canso, and Rafah DiCostanzo, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Clayton Park West, were also in attendance.

Funding will support upgrades and enhancements to school buildings across Nova Scotia. Improvements such as window replacements, HVAC upgrades , and renovations to create new classroom spaces. These improvements will enhance the energy efficiency in the schools, and ensure students and staff benefit from safer learning environments.

The Government of Canada is investing over $20.5 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 $5 million.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada is taking strong and quick action to protect the health and safety of all Canadians, to stabilize our economy, and to support communities across Canada. The repairs and improvements to schools across Nova Scotia will promote a healthier, safer learning environment for students and staff. Canada’s infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country, and builds cleaner, more inclusive communities."

Andy Fillmore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament for Halifax, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“Nova Scotia is a growing, vibrant province, and our schools are the heart of our communities. This significant investment, which is over and above regular capital repairs, will improve the school and learning experience for our students and staff from one end of the province to the other.”

The Honourable Iain Rankin, Premier of Nova Scotia

“An investment in our schools and classrooms is an investment in our students, teachers and staff. By partnering with the Government of Canada, we are improving dozens of schools in Nova Scotia, making upgrades and more comfortable places to learn.”

The Honourable Derek Mombourquette, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development

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 $888 million in 267 infrastructure projects across Nova Scotia under the Investing in Canada plan.

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Contacts

Michelle Johnston
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-298-7386
michelle.johnston@canada.ca

Jasmine Flemming
Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood
Cell: 902-220-9665
Jasmine.Flemming@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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