A new Battle of Chignecto sees provinces and federal government dodging the bill to fortify the Isthmus
It’s been about 275 years since the Battle of Chignecto saw two of North America’s colonial powers fight for control of the Chignecto Isthmus.
These days the strip of land is still highly valued, particularly as the only transportation corridor connecting Nova Scotia and Newfoundland with New Brunswick and the rest of the country.
But the Chignecto Isthmus is vulnerable to the realities of climate change. Sea level rise and more frequent, severe storms mean the threat of dykes breaching and flooding the corridor with coastal waters increases every year, as does the price of fortifying it, currently estimated at about $650 million.
And that’s why there’s a new battle of Chignecto in 2024, this time not about taking control of the Isthmus, but about giving up responsibility for maintaining it. While the federal government has committed to covering 50% of the substantial estimated cost, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia are insisting that it cover 100% of the bill to make the national transportation corridor future-proof.
The battle over paying for the Isthmus has three fronts: a constitutional case working its way slowly through the Nova Scotia Supreme Court, a senate sponsored bill making its way to the House of Commons this fall, and a very public shame and blame exercise between the two Premiers, Blaine Higgs and Tim Houston, and the two federal ministers associated with the project, Sean Fraser and Dominic LeBlanc.… Continue
Tantramar mayor Andrew Black talks calls for meeting on Chignecto isthmus, more federal funding, and insurance company interest
Tantramar mayor Andrew Black has been talking about the Chignecto Isthmus a lot lately. In the mayor’s report at last week’s committee of the whole meeting, Black mentioned conversations with his counterparts in the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, with an insurance executive concerned about reducing risk, and with former Sackville councillor and ClimAtlantic director Sabine Dietz, about hosting a discussion on how to protect the corridor between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
CHMA called him up to find out more:
Closing the information gap on the isthmus
Black told council last week that he and Mayor David Kogon of Amherst had met with ClimAtlantic’s Dietz to talk about an information sharing gap when it comes to the isthmus protection project.
In 2019, the province commissioned Wood Canada to study the isthmus and come up with options to protect it from rising sea levels and increasing frequency of severe storm events. That study was finally released in 2022, and the cost estimates it put forward have already more than doubled. Black says there’s more information out there, and considering that actual work on the isthmus is still years away, there’s plenty to discuss. Dietz has proposed a session involving municipal, provincial and federal representatives and various experts on how to protect the isthmus, and has asked the councils in Tantramar and Amherst for letters of support.… Continue
Higgs threatens court action over funding to protect Isthmus, Mitton calls out ‘politics being played’
Premier Blaine Higgs has threatened to take the federal government to court if it doesn’t agree to cover 100% of the cost of the Chignecto Isthmus protection project. The premier made the statement in a letter to federal infrastructure minister Dominic LeBlanc on July 4.
However in the same letter, the premier also reserves the right to agree to a hypothetical two-thirds federal funding formula.
Higgs’ letter is in response to one from LeBlanc on June 23, denying the assertion by Higgs and his Nova Scotia counterpart, Tim Houston, that the project should be fully funded by Canada, and setting a deadline of July 19 for the provinces to apply for 50% funding under a federal climate adaptation fund.
In his July 4 letter, Higgs writes that he was profoundly disappointed with LeBlanc’s letter. “Your government’s refusal to recognize and act upon its constitutional responsibility for this project will have negative ramifications for this vital transportation gateway and the Canadians it serves,” writes Higgs.
The premier goes on to say that the Constitution Act of 1867 outlines the responsibility of the federal government to “maintain and secure transportation links between provinces.” Because the Isthmus supports major transportation and communications infrastructure, Higgs argues that the protection of the land bridge also qualifies as a federal responsibility.
“If the federal government refuses to accept its constitutional responsibility in this manner, it will be up to the governments of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to ask the courts to enforce our nation’s supreme law,” writes Higgs.… Continue
Tantramar Report: Cap Pelé to build $13.5 million community centre, Mel’s Tearoom is back with in house dining, live music
Thursday on Tantramar Report:
We stop in at Mel’s Tearoom on Bridge Street to speak with co-owner Dave Epworth about his plans for the newly renovated Sackville landmark, including live music.
Meg Cunningham chats with Jeska Grue about her upcoming Sappyfest Infinite Variety Show special: Share your pets with Sappyfest.
We hear about yesterday’s announcement of a $13.5 million community centre going up in Cap-Pelé, just 50 kilometres north of Sackville
We ask Dominic LeBlanc about the progress getting a federal daycare deal for New Brunswick.
Plus other news and local information:
CBC reporter Tori Weldon has announced she is leaving her job at CBC Moncton, and heading for a future in podcasting. Weldon made the announcement on social media Wednesday, saying Friday would be her last day at CBC New Brunswick.
Ability NB is calling for nominations in search of ten outstanding individuals to be recognized for their work helping New Brunswickers with mobility disabilities.
And glass recycling bins are now set up at the Tantramar Civic Centre.… Continue