N.S. mayors welcome federal budget’s $51-billion infrastructure plan

Nova Scotia mayors discussed the federal budget in Halifax on Wednesday.

Yarmouth mayor Pam Mood said the new federal infrastructure funding announced in this week’s budget, is a welcomed boost and much needed for municipalities struggling to keep up with rising infrastructure costs.

Mood points to critical coastal infrastructure projects in her community that need immediate attention, including upgrades to deteriorating fishing wharves and improvements to the Canada–U.S. ferry terminal.

“The lobster fishery here is the second largest in Canada,” Mood said. We need to have the wharves up to par and they have been deteriorating for quite some time now.”

The same goes for the Canada-U.S. ferry terminal which is important to the local and provincial economy, said Mood. “It’s an international crossing and it’s tens of thousands of visitors.”

Across the province, Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Cecil Clarke says his community faces similar challenges with rising infrastructure costs, and points to a five-year, $1.5-billion capital plan that requires support from other levels of government.

“Tax pressure is at a maximum,” Clarke said. “People feel overtaxed, yet they need more infrastructure support for everyday curbside issues.”

The federal budget unveiled Tuesday includes a 10-year, $51-billion infrastructure plan under the “Building Communities Strong” initiative that has targeted more than half of the money to build and improve local roads, bridges, water systems and community centres.

“We’ll build new roads and bridges so you can get to where you want to go more easily, and our products can move more quickly,” said Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Mood called the funding a positive step for communities facing mounting costs.

“A rising tide floats all boats,” she said. “If we’re doing well locally, then the province and the country are too.”

Nova Scotia’s Municipal Affairs Minister John A. MacDonald said he hasn’t dug through the full budget yet but says growing the provincial economy as key to supporting community infrastructure and the province aims to become an energy superpower.

“It’s our natural resources,” that’s the future, said MacDonald. “And Wind West which I understand was in the budget… is going to be a generational change.”

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page