New Brunswick Announcement Positive for Nova Scotia

PREMIER'S OFFICE--New Brunswick Announcement Positive for Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm welcomed news today, Aug. 14, of a federal-provincial agreement to twin part of the Trans-Canada Highway in northern New Brunswick.

"The federal government is finally starting to recognize that it must start reinvesting in our country's national highway system," said the premier. "For the last three years, my colleagues and I from Atlantic Canada have pressed the federal government to start redirecting its gas tax revenues into highway improvements. Today's announcement is a positive first step for Atlantic Canada, particularly as many truckers and visitors to and from Nova Scotia use this highway."

Discussions are now under way between the Nova Scotia government and federal officials on major improvements to the national highway system in the province. A major twinning project, cost- shared under a Canada-Nova Scotia agreement signed in July 2001, has already started on a section of Highway 101 in Hants County.

"Since 1999, this government has spent more on highways, roads and bridges each and every year, just as we told Nova Scotians we would," said Premier Hamm. "Now that New Brunswick's major highway priority has been addressed by Ottawa, we are in a stronger position to convince the federal government to match Nova Scotia's commitment to our province's transportation infrastructure."

The federal government collects more than $130 million from Nova Scotia motorists in fuel excise tax. This year, less than $10 million will be returned to Nova Scotia highways. Premier Hamm has repeatedly raised the issue of inadequate federal funding for Nova Scotia highways.