Atlantic ministers call for new federal infrastructure funding

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

Ministers responsible for transportation in Atlantic Canada are “urging” the federal government to start a new, long-term infrastructure funding program.

Following a meeting Thursday, the ministers said provinces are facing a “significant funding shortfall” for roads, highways and bridges since the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and the New Building Canada Fund have both ended.

“A replacement funding program is urgently needed to support ambitious nation-building projects and grow interprovincial and international trade,” reads a joint statement issued after the ministers met.

They say climate change, rising road usage and aging infrastructure are causing a strain on transportation systems in the Atlantic region. Marine transportation, including ferries servicing the area, is aging, the statement says.

“While recent federal investments in housing, water, waste management, and transit, and lower Marine Atlantic ferry fares and tolls on the Confederation Bridge, are appreciated, they do not address the pressing need for transportation infrastructure renewal,” the statement read.

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“It is critical for our province and for all of Canada that we keep our transportation infrastructure in good condition for the people and businesses that count on it,” said Fred Tilley, Nova Scotia’s transportation minister. “If we are going to make the most of our economic potential, we need to have a safe and efficient network that delivers our products to new markets creating new opportunities for future prosperity.”

Chignecto Isthmus brought up

The ministers brought up the vital land corridor between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick as an example of how supply chains could be disrupted if repairs are not done to maintain the strip of land.

Nova Scotia’s minister of public works, Fred Tilley, told reporters after a cabinet meeting that the province is conducting pre-engineering work and holding consultations with New Brunswick for upgrades to the Chignecto Isthmus.

The eventual goal is to upgrade 35 kilometres of dikes to better protect rail, road and communication lines during powerful storms.

However, the cabinet minister says there’s “a lot of work” that’s needed before construction begins.

He says the $650-million project being financed jointly by the two provinces and the federal government is expected to take 10 years.

Meanwhile, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal recently rejected the province’s request for an opinion on whether Ottawa should pay for the whole project. The federal government has agreed to pay half the cost.