Government of Canada Announces Important Water Infrastructure Improvements in the Town of Amherst

AMHERST, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - June 26, 2015) - Infrastructure Canada

Scott Armstrong, Member of Parliament for Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, 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 $248,345 in federal funding for water infrastructure improvements in Amherst through the Small Communities Fund. MP Armstrong was joined by Terry Farrell, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Cumberland North, and Rob Small, Mayor of the Town of Amherst.

The project involves replacing 358 metres of a century-old water main, and separating sanitary and storm sewers on Mill Street. This work will decrease the flow of storm water into the sanitary sewer system, reducing the burden on the waste water treatment plant as well as overflow incidents. The project will improve the efficiency of the water distribution system and diminish the frequency of combined sewer overflows into Dickey Brook.

The project announced today is 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:

• For the Amherst project, the Government of Canada will contribute up to one third of the total eligible project costs of $745,034, to a maximum of $248,345, under the New Building Canada Fund's Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component-Small Communities Fund.
• The Government of Nova Scotia will also contribute one third of the project costs up to $248,345.
• The Town of Amherst will be responsible for the remaining project costs.
• 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."

Scott Armstrong, Member of Parliament for Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, 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."

Terry Farrell, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Cumberland North

"The Town of Amherst is pleased to work with the federal and provincial governments to make improvements to our wastewater system. The Mill Street project has been on our radar for a while. Today's announcement is very timely given some of the flooding that we experienced in that area earlier this week. The Small Communities Fund is making it affordable for us to able to carry out this necessary infrastructure work and ensures we are contributing to a clean environment."

Rob Small, Mayor of the Town of Amherst

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.

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