Water Infrastructure Upgrades Support Growth in Glace Bay, Sydney Mines

Critical upgrades to water, wastewater and stormwater systems in Glace Bay and Sydney Mines will improve service and unlock additional housing opportunities needed to support growth in Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

“We need to increase the capacity and sustainability of water delivery, wastewater and stormwater systems if we want our communities to grow and thrive,” said John White, MLA for Glace Bay-Dominion, on behalf of John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “This investment will provide immediate benefits to residents in the area, while supporting the development of new housing, which creates more opportunities for Nova Scotians and helps our economy grow.”

The work will take place along Brookland Street in Glace Bay and Church Street in Sydney Mines, benefiting a total of 52 existing homes while also preparing the areas for more housing in the future. The projects include new drinking water lines and stormwater improvements on both streets, and Brookland Street will also have wastewater upgrades.

The three levels of government are investing a total of $2.9 million, including more than $966,000 from the Province, through the new Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund. Under the fund agreement with the Government of Canada, Nova Scotia will receive $170.9 million over a 10-year period to support population growth.

Quotes:

“By partnering with Nova Scotia, we’re delivering future housing opportunities like the ones in Sydney Mines and Glace Bay to help get housing projects off the ground. We are partnering with governments, buildings and communities through programs such as this one and organizations like Build Canada Homes to drive innovation in the homebuilding industry, bringing the right partners together to build and accelerate the delivery of more affordable homes for Canadians.”
— Mike Kelloway, Member of Parliament for Sydney–Glace Bay, on behalf of Gregor Roberston, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

“By strengthening our local infrastructure, including water and wastewater systems, we’re ensuring it keeps pace with future growth and provides the foundation for communities to expand.”
— Cecil Clarke, Mayor, Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Quick Facts:

• project cost-sharing breaks down as follows: Government of Canada – $1,160,000; Nova Scotia – $996,570; Cape Breton Regional Municipality – $733,430
• under the housing infrastructure fund, the Province agrees to contribute a minimum of 33.33 per cent of eligible expenditures to each project led by a municipal or regional government

Additional Resources:

Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund: https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/housing-logement/chif-fcil/index-eng.html

News release – The Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia finalize a ten-year agreement to get more homes built:
https://www.canada.ca/en/housing-infrastructure-communities/news/2025/05/the-governments-of-canada-and-nova-scotia-finalize-a-ten-year-agreement-to-get-more-homes-built.html