The premier of Nova Scotia is once again calling on the federal government to foot the entire bill to repair the vital land link between our province and New Brunswick.
Tim Houston has written a letter to seven liberal members of parliament to cover the estimated $650 million.
Ottawa has previously only committed to paying half.
Houston says in the letter he is worried only one severe weather event will damage the Chignecto Isthmus to the point where it gets disconnected from the rest of the country.
Therefore, the province continues to move forward with necessary work like repairing the dike system and installing steel walls at selection locations.
In a post on social media Houston says spending money on the link is taking funds away from other projects.
“While project priorities continue to be met and tenders issued, every dollar that the province spends on this is a dollar that is taken away from healthcare, other provincial priorities and Nova Scotians.”
He adds, The Nova Scotia Court of Appeal is determining whether Ottawa is financially responsible for the trade corridor.
Houston stresses, he is “hopeful” the court will confirm Ottawa’s responsibility and “continue its history of covering one hundred per cent of the costs of infrastructure projects that are of national importance.”
Nearly $100 million worth of trade passes through every day.
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