Government of Canada Announces Important Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements in Kings County

KENTVILLE, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - July 2, 2015) - Infrastructure Canada

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Regional Minister for Nova Scotia, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, 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, today announced $1,289,452 in federal funding for three water and wastewater infrastructure projects in Kings County through the Small Communities Fund. Minister MacKay was joined by the Honourable Leo Glavine, Minister of Health and Wellness, Minister of Seniors, and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Kings West, David Corkum, Mayor of the Town of Kentville, Everett MacPherson, Commission Chair for the Village of Canning, and Maynard Stevens, Commission Vice-chair for the Village of New Minas.

These projects will help Nova Scotia communities improve their water and wastewater infrastructure, thus improving the quality of life for families in those municipalities. When completed, the systems will better meet the needs of their residents today and into the future.

The projects announced today are among 16 projects recently approved for more than $22 million in joint funding under the Small Communities Fund in Nova Scotia. These projects represent important investments in the drinking water and wastewater infrastructure that maintains safe, healthy communities. Once complete, the work will significantly improve key municipal services for residents and help boost regional development for years to come.

The $1-billion Small Communities Fund provides funding for priority public infrastructure projects that deliver on local needs across the country. Canada and Nova Scotia will each provide $42,649,416 to support projects in Nova Scotia communities with fewer than 100,000 residents over the course of the funding program. This will help address local infrastructure priorities and boost economies in small communities throughout the province well into the future.

Quick Facts:



-- Each of the three projects announced today will be cost-shared by the
three governments on a one-third basis.

-- For the 16 projects altogether, the Government of Canada is providing up
to one third of the total eligible costs to a maximum federal
contribution of $7,542,215.

-- The Province of Nova Scotia will contribute up to $7,542,215 to these
projects.

-- Nova Scotia communities will be responsible for the remaining costs of
the 16 projects.




Quotes:

"Our Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, understands that by building stronger communities and modernizing and developing our infrastructure, we are creating jobs and opportunities and building a better Canada for future generations. The Small Communities Fund of the New Building Canada Fund supports economic growth from coast to coast to coast while ensuring that Canadian communities remain among the best in the world to live."

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Regional Minister for Nova Scotia, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, 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

"We recognize the economic and social value of supporting municipalities that invest in quality infrastructure for their citizens. We will continue to work collaboratively with our federal and municipal colleagues to make improvements to key infrastructure such as water and wastewater systems, helping us build stronger communities across Nova Scotia."

The Honourable Leo Glavine, Minister of Health and Wellness, Minister of Seniors, and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Kings West

"We look forward to updating Chester Avenue in Kentville, which is a main gateway into our community. We will be replacing 1 kilometre of watermain, which is over 100 years old, 1.3 kilometres of concrete sanitary sewer, and 1.3 kilometres of storm sewer of different types and materials. Road infrastructure will also require replacement as the new infrastructure gets placed, including two large retaining walls that support the existing infrastructure. These significant infrastructure upgrades will service Kentville's residents and our many visitors for years to come. This landmark project, combined with the scheduled Cornwallis Bridge replacement in 2016, is a wonderful example of collaborative investments in Kentville by the provincial and federal governments."

David Corkum, Mayor of the Town of Kentville

"The Village of Canning continues to work hard to improve aging infrastructure. In recent years the Village has upgraded the water utility by installing a new water tower, replacing main lines and laterals along Main Street and doing upgrades to the well heads and distribution system. We are very pleased to receive the grant from the Small Communities Fund, which will enable us to replace some antiquated lines below the Lion's Hall on Queen, Bigelow, Elm and Pleasant Streets and Seminary Avenue. This will result in a more reliable water distribution for citizens in these areas. As a small community we are grateful for this support, for without it we would not be able to do these upgrades."

Everett MacPherson, Commission Chair, Village of Canning

"On behalf of the Village of New Minas, I would like to thank the provincial and federal governments for the funds provided today through the NBCF-Small Communities Fund which will allow us to re-locate water and sewer infrastructure to mitigate floodplain hazards. We appreciate the importance of this fund to help communities like New Minas with infrastructure renewal."

Maynard Stevens, Commission Vice-chair, Village of New Minas

Related Product:

Backgrounder - Government of Canada announces important water infrastructure improvements in the Municipality of the County of Kings

Associated Links:

To learn more about the Small Communities Fund, please visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/sc-cp-eng.html.

For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nbcp-npcc-eng.html.

To learn more about the Government of Canada's focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada's Economic Action Plan at http://www.budget.gc.ca/2015/home-accueil-eng.html.

Follow us on Twitter at @INFC_eng

BACKGROUNDER

The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia announced funding for the following three water and wastewater projects in Nova Scotia under the New Building Canada Plan's Small Communities Fund.

Town of Kentville



-- The project involves renewing water main and sanitary sewers along
Chester Avenue, which service 80 residential properties. This will
improve the overall efficiency of the community's water and wastewater
collection and distribution systems, help reduce untreated wastewater
overflows, and decrease sewer-related basement drain back-ups.

-- The Government of Canada will contribute up to one third of the total
eligible project costs of $2,964,655, to a maximum of $988,218.

-- The Government of Nova Scotia will also contribute one third of the
project costs up to $988,218.

-- The Town of Kentville will be responsible for the remaining project
costs.




Village of Canning



-- The project involves replacing the water mains along Queen Street,
Bigelow Street, Elm Street, Pleasant Street and Seminary Avenue. This
will improve the reliability of water services for the 34 households
connected to these mains and make the community's water collection and
distribution system more efficient on the whole.

-- The Government of Canada will contribute up to one third of the total
eligible project costs of $314,391, to a maximum of $104,797.

-- The Government of Nova Scotia will also contribute one third of the
project costs up to $104,797.

-- The Village of Canning will be responsible for the remaining project
costs.




Village of New Minas



-- The project involves protecting seven wellheads in the Village of New
Minas. These wellheads serve 6,000 residents and are currently under
risk of contamination from the floodplain. This work will flood-proof
the wellheads by raising the water service and sanitary sewer manholes.
Once completed, the project will provide residents connected to the
system with better protection against untreated wastewater overflows.

-- The Government of Canada will contribute up to one third of the total
eligible project costs of $589,311, to a maximum of $196,437.

-- The Government of Nova Scotia will also contribute one third of the
project costs up to $196,437.

-- The Village of New Minas will be responsible for the remaining project
costs.




FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Vincent Rabault, 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


Brian Taylor
Media Relations Advisor
Province of Nova Scotia
902-424-1750
Brian.Taylor@novacotia.ca


Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
media@infc.gc.ca