Green infrastructure improvements to benefit residents in Antigonish County

ANTIGONISH COUNTY, NS, July 19, 2022 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities; Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton—Canso; the Honourable Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness, on behalf of the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables; and Owen McCarron, Warden of the Municipality of the County of Antigonish, announced funding for two green community infrastructure projects in Antigonish.

Part of the funding announced today will be used to upgrade nine community buildings, including six community centres, to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. These improvements include replacing heating systems, lighting, and installing solar panels on each building to reach net-zero energy once the retrofits are completed. The project will offset the municipality's carbon footprint through the production of a total of 297 kW of renewable solar energy.

Funding will also support improvements to active transportation infrastructure in Antigonish. The project includes the construction of a multi-use pathway along the Trunk 4 transportation corridor between Beech Hill Road and Addington Forks Road. The new pathway system will be approximately five kilometres long and provide opportunities for walking and cycling. Once complete, this project will become part of the Blue Route, a province-wide network of bicycle infrastructure that helps Nova Scotians to travel between communities, stay active, and reduce their carbon footprints.

The Government of Canada is investing more than $9.5 million towards these projects. The Government of Nova Scotia is providing more than $7.4 million and the County of Antigonish is contributing over $2.4 million.

Quotes

"These projects will create jobs, make Antigonish a more vibrant and dynamic place to live, and help make the County more environmentally sustainable. It is extraordinary to see yet another investment of this magnitude from the federal government reaching Antigonish."

The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities

"Working together to adapt to climate change is essential to building a better, more resilient future for everyone. Today's announcement in energy efficient community buildings and active transportation shows Nova Scotians' commitment to addressing climate change right here at home. Their efforts will encourage the next generation to continue to build a greener future for our community."

Mike Kelloway, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton—Canso

"Nova Scotia is a national leader in fighting climate change. Transitioning to more renewable energy sources like solar power and encouraging active transportation are just some of the many actions propelling us toward our ambitious goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050."   

The Honourable Michelle Thompson, Minister of Health and Wellness, on behalf of the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables

"Partnership is key, these projects are an example of three levels of government working together with community for long term sustainability. We are striving for net zero in nine community buildings, six of which are community centres in Antigonish County. These buildings will see a real reduction in operational costs, a fantastic way to support them and the volunteers that keep them going. This along with the development of an Active Transportation (AT) Corridor will connect people and places, encourage active living, and build community. This AT Corridor will connect with the Town's AT pathways, another example of local partnership. Both projects are reducing GHG emissions and building local resilience to climate change. We are excited about actively offsetting our communities' carbon footprint and showing how rural communities can lead by example."

Owen McCarron, Warden of the Municipality of Antigonish County

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada's funding comes from the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
• Under the Investing in Canada Plan, the federal government is investing 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.
• Over the past 6 years, over $5.9 billion of the Investing in Canada Plan funding has supported Green Infrastructure Stream projects across the country.
• The Government of Canada has invested more than $464 million in more than 140 infrastructure projects across Nova Scotia under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.
• Infrastructure Canada helps address complex challenges that Canadians face every day—ranging from the rapid growth of our cities, to climate change, and environmental threats to our water and land.
• The funding announced today builds on the Government of Canada's work through the Atlantic Growth Strategy to create well-paying middle class jobs, strengthen local economies, and build inclusive communities.

Associated links

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

Investing in Canada Plan Project Map
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/gmap-gcarte/index-eng.html 

Federal infrastructure investments in Nova Scotia
https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/prog-proj-ns-eng.html 

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

Jean-Sébastien Comeau, Press Secretary and Communications Advisor, Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, 343-574-8116, [email protected]; Patricia Jreige, Media Relations Advisor, Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, Cell: [phone], [email protected]; Tammy Feltmate, Director of Sustainable Communities, Municipality of the County of Antigonish, Tel.: [phone], Mobile: [phone], [email protected]; Media Relations, Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]; Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, Web: Infrastructure Canada