Unique partnership
Canso gets $4.2 million for new water, sewer facilities
CANSO - Of all the infrastructure projects being announced for Nova Scotia communities this year, the $4.5 million deal to build a new water treatment plant and sewer system in Canso is unique.
Canso's precarious financial situation meant it wasn't possible for the community to kick in the normal 30 per cent for the municipal share, and local residents - already dealing with tax hikes and severe unemployment - aren't in a position to make up that amount. As a result, the infrastructure agreement between the three levels of government took more time and effort to hammer out. But in the end the community is getting state-of-the-art facilities with an unusually high rate of provincial and federal funding.
Of the $4.5 million total cost, the town is only kicking in $250,000. Federal and provincial funding, announced in Canso Monday by MLA for Guysborough - Sheet Harbour Ron Chisholm, amounts to $4,250,000. More than 400 homes in Canso and the local fish plant will have drinking water facility that will exceed current standards thanks to the funding from the Canada - Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program and the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund.
The project includes the design and construction of a new water treatment plant, a treatment process waste disposal system and upgrades to transmission and storage facilities. The new systems will serve Canso, The Tickle and Hazel Hill.
Chisholm said he's hopeful that in addition to providing clean drinking water for the future, this construction project will provide some jobs for local residents. Minister for ACOA and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Central Nova MP Peter MacKay was not able to attend the announcement at the Canso Arena because he was enroute to Afghanistan, but a message from the minister was read at the announcement.
"Our new government recognizes the challenges faced by many small, rural communities, including the need for clean, safe drinking water," said MacKay. "We are taking action to meeting those challenges head on."
Canso mayor Ray White expressed gratitude to both MacKay and Chisholm for their work in getting this deal struck. "They've come through," he said of the provincial and federal teams working on the deal. "Both have delivered."
White also praised the work of town councillors in pushing for a deal that would meet the unique needs of the community.
The mayor said the next step would be for the town to contact their consulting firm to tell them to move past the pre-design stage on to the tender stage. He said he was hopeful that a construction tender would be awarded in the summer months, as the project must be completed by April of 2007.
The Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program and the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund are administered by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.
