HALIFAX, April 24, 2017 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia recognize that strategic investments in recreational infrastructure play a key role in supporting healthy, dynamic communities and a good economic environment with opportunities for the middle class to grow.
Today, the Honourable Scott Brison, Member of Parliament for Kings‒Hants and President of the Treasury Board, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, along with the Honourable Labi Kousoulis, Minister of the Public Service Commission on behalf of the Honourable Zach Churchill, Minister of Municipal Affairs, announced $10 million in joint federal‒provincial funding for the construction of a new YMCA facility in the Greater Halifax/Dartmouth region.
Serving as both a recreational facility and community centre, the new building will include an aquatic centre, a gymnasium and indoor track, child-care facilities, and community resource centres for leadership, child and family development.
The expanded space will accommodate a significant increase in membership, enabling more residents from across the Greater Halifax/Dartmouth area to benefit from the YMCA's services, and promoting healthy lifestyles, community engagement, and economic prosperity for the region as a whole.
Quotes
"I am very pleased to see the construction of this new facility going forward, bringing this much-needed community space back to the Greater Halifax/Dartmouth region. Our government is proud to be making important investments in recreational infrastructure, which encourage healthy lifestyles, while fostering economic growth and the creation of well-paid middle class jobs."
The Honourable Scott Brison, Member of Parliament for Kings–Hants and President of the Treasury Board, on behalf of the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"We want Nova Scotians to be connected to their communities. By investing in major infrastructure projects, we can continue to have vibrant communities where Nova Scotians can raise healthy families. Our government sees recreation facilities like the new and improved YMCA as a way to promote healthy living."
The Honourable Labi Kousoulis, Minister of the Public Service Commission on behalf of the Honourable Zach Churchill, Minister of Municipal Affairs
Quick facts
- The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia are each contributing up to $5 million to this project through the National and Regional projects component of the New Building Canada Fund, while the YMCA is providing $22.9 million.
- The City of Halifax contributed by approving the Municipal Site Plan Amendment, which allowed the project site density to be increased, and an increase in the land value by $4.066 million.
- With over 6503 square-metres of space, in downtown Halifax, the new YMCA facility focus is on accessibility, high occupancy, and public meeting areas and will be able to accommodate a 600% increase in memberships.
- The Government of Canada will provide more than $180 billion in infrastructure funding over 12 years for public transit, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, transportation that supports trade, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
Associated links
Government of Canada's $180-billion+ infrastructure plan in Budget 2017: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2017/docs/plan/chap-02-en.html#Toc477707375
Federal infrastructure investments in Nova Scotia: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/ns-eng.html
Provincial-Territorial Infrastructure Component – National and Regional Projects: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/nrp-pnr-prog-eng.html.
Twitter: @INFC_eng
Web: Infrastructure Canada
SOURCE Infrastructure Canada
Brook Simpson, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-219-0149, [email protected]; Sarah Gillis, 902-266-8554 (cell), 902-424-3313 (office), [email protected]; Holly O'Leary, 902-414-5267 (cell), 902-423-9709 Ext 234 (office), [email protected]; Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, [email protected]
Share this article