New, Widened Sidewalks in Meteghan; Water, Wastewater Upgrades in Digby, Bear River

Upgrades to sidewalks, water and wastewater systems in Digby and Annapolis counties will help bring needed infrastructure improvements to growing communities.

“Digby and Annapolis counties are wonderful places to call home, and it’s essential that these communities have the municipal infrastructure they need to continue to grow and thrive,” said Jill Balser, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration and MLA for Digby-Annapolis, on behalf of John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “The upgrades we’re announcing today will help support tourism, local businesses and local residents with water safety and accessibility.”

The Municipality of the District of Clare, in Digby County, will repair and widen existing sidewalks in Meteghan Centre and extend a sidewalk in Meteghan to provide safer access to the new Villa Acadienne long-term care facility.

The Town of Digby will install new back-up generators that will help keep its wastewater system running during power outages.

The Municipality of the County of Annapolis will expand and develop Bear River’s water system to improve access to safe drinking water for residents and visitors.

The Province is investing more than $3.23 million in these projects, with $3.69 million coming from the municipalities and other sources.

The projects are part of the Municipal Capital Growth Program, a one-time $102-million investment in projects across Nova Scotia – a historic provincial investment in municipal infrastructure.

Quotes:

“It is important to be prepared for the increasing frequency of power outages due to climate change, especially in areas like Digby, where the effects may be felt more acutely. Thank you to the provincial government for providing funding to assist us in having back-up power for our essential services, such as warming stations, wastewater and drinking water.”
— Ben Cleveland, Mayor, Town of Digby

“We’re grateful to the Province for this investment and for their collaboration in helping ensure that communities in Annapolis County have the infrastructure they need to build a bright and promising future.”
— Alex Morrison, Warden, Annapolis County

“The Municipality of Clare is pleased to see this project come to fruition, which will improve accessibility, walkability and active transportation in our community and, in turn, the quality of life for residents, including those living with mobility restrictions at the Villa Acadienne, residential care facilities and the small options home in the Meteghan area.”
— Yvon LeBlanc, Warden, Municipality of the District of Clare

Quick Facts:

• the Municipal Capital Growth Program, announced in February, was designed to respond to the infrastructure needs of municipalities and addresses critical issues such as housing, climate change, accessibility and growth

Additional Resources:

News releases about the Municipal Capital Growth Program and projects are available at: https://news.novascotia.ca/search/all?field_topics=293