Feds award first funds under SHIP initiative

The federal government, under the auspices of its new $600 million Strategic Highway Infrastructure Program (SHIP), will provide joint funding of $34.6 million over the next five years for highway improvement projects in the province of Nova Scotia.

This is the first federal-provincial agreement to be signed under the agreement, which was first introduced in April 2001.

Federal Transport Minister David Collenette signed the agreement together with the Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Minister Responsible for Nova Scotia, Robert G. Thibault, and Minister of Transportation and Public Works for Nova Scotia, Ron Russell.

“I am pleased to announce that the Government of Canada is providing an additional $17.3 million in funding through this agreement, which includes $13.5 million towards a three-year project to twin 21 kilometres of existing two-lane highway from Mount Uniacke to Ellershouse. Funds provided under SHIP will mean that the twinning of this section of the highway will be completed five years sooner than originally planned” said Collenette.

In the near future, Transport Canada anticipates receiving a proposed list of other projects for funding under SHIP for the Province of Nova Scotia. The department will review the benefits of these projects and how they support the objectives of the program and, in partnership with the province, determine which projects best meet these objectives.

“This funding agreement between the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia will soon result in concrete improvements to our highway infrastructure,” said Thibault.