Pictou and Pictou Landing First Nation to benefit from cleaner environment and restoration of tidal inlet

PICTOU LANDING, NS, May 23, 2019 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia recognize that strategic investments in green infrastructure play a key role in supporting dynamic, healthy communities while creating good jobs that help grow the middle class.

Today, Sean Fraser, Member of Parliament for Central Nova, on behalf of the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development, and the Honourable Randy Delorey, Nova Scotia Minister of Health and Wellness, announced funding to support the clean-up and protection of Boat Harbour and the surrounding environment.

This project aims to restore Boat Harbour back to its natural state as an open tidal inlet. By removing and containing contaminated soil and sediment, and improving portions of Highway 348 including the construction of a bridge to replace the current causeway, this project will ensure the natural flow of water between the ocean and the harbour.

Once complete, residents will benefit from a cleaner local environment, and healthier local ecosystems. This project will also support efforts to restore fish and bird habitat while protecting traditional recreation, fishing, and hunting lands for local Mi'kmaq Peoples.

The Government of Canada is contributing $100 million to the project through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan. The Province of Nova Scotia has already committed more than $100 million toward the cost of the project.

Quotes

"Cleaning Boat Harbour has been a top priority of mine from the first day I took office. Since 2015, I have been actively working on this file and I am proud to be part of today's historic announcement. This project will help reconnect the Pictou Landing First Nation community to their traditional lands in pursuit of reconciliation. This once in a generation investment exemplifies our commitment to protecting Canada's environment while creating good paying jobs in rural Nova Scotia."

Sean Fraser, Member of Parliament for Central Nova, on behalf of the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Rural Economic Development

"We want to thank the federal government for their significant contribution to this important project. As a province, we remain committed to returning Boat Harbour to its natural state so the people of Pictou Landing First Nation can enjoy and benefit from this land for generations to come."

The Honourable Randy Delorey, Nova Scotia Minister of Health and Wellness

"We would like to take this time to thank our Federal and Provincial partners for their significant contributions toward the remediation of A'se'k. We are closer to our youth one day enjoying this land, land that our Elders played at, swam, fished and hunted. This project has allowed our community to begin the healing process from decades of trauma from this environmental devastation. We cannot wait for this land to be returned to its natural state, land that we can one day all enjoy."

Chief Andrea Paul, Pictou Landing First Nation

Quick facts

• Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada will invest 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.
• $26.9 billion of this funding is supporting green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
• Budget 2019, Investing in the Middle Class, is the federal government's plan to create more well-paying jobs, put home ownership within reach for more Canadians, help working people get the training they need to succeed, support seniors and lay the foundation for national pharmacare.
• With many municipalities across Canada facing serious infrastructure deficits, Budget 2019 includes a one-time top-up of $2.2 billion to the federal Gas Tax Fund to help address short-term priorities in municipalities and First Nations communities.
• These investments complement the Atlantic Growth Strategy, a federal-provincial action plan aimed at stimulating economic growth in the region through five priority areas:
• Skilled workforce/Immigration;
• Innovation;
• Clean growth and climate change;
• Trade and investment;
• Infrastructure.

Associated links

Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html

Investing in Canada Plan Project Map:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map

Federal infrastructure investments in Nova Scotia: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/ns-eng.html

Atlantic Growth Strategy: http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/ags-sca/Eng/atlantic-growth.html

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SOURCE Infrastructure Canada