Federal and provincial ministers continue the impasse over who will fund the protection of the transportation corridor along the Chignecto Isthmus, which connects New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
The corridor is at risk from sea level rise and storm surges which could wash out the rail line and highway which is estimated to transport between $35 million and $50 million worth of goods every day.
The latest official communication comes from federal infrastructure minister (and Beauséjour MP) Dominic LeBlanc, who wrote to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia premiers Blaine Higgs and Tim Houston on June 23, refusing their demand for the federal government to fully fund the project.
The premiers, along with their other Atlantic counterparts, made the request based on the idea that the corridor is of national importance, similar to the Confederation Bridge.
LeBlanc rejects that argument in his June letter, writing that “the federal government is not responsible for a complete funding of this project.”
Instead, Leblanc urged the premiers to apply for the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, which he says is the only program available to help pay for the project. That fund could cover up to 50% of the cost, leaving the provinces to make up the other half. The deadline to apply for the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund is just a few weeks away on July 19.
Premier Blaine Higgs said in a statement on June 28 that he had not yet spoken to the federal minister about the disagreement, even though both were attending a joint announcement event in Fredericton.
Despite the apparent impasse, Higgs was positive, according to his statement, shared with CHMA via email:
“I think we will find a path forward, so I am looking to have that direct discussion with him.
I guess I can understand why he put a deadline forward so we can finally get into a discussion and get on with it. I think we can relate to the concept. I think we will find a path that will work with the deadline because I think it is important to end this in a meaningful way and have a path forward. I am cautiously optimistic that we can find a solution.”
The premier also reiterated that he felt there was a precedent that Ottawa should fully fund the project.
Around the same time that the premiers called for full federal funding, the Atlantic Mayors Caucus released their own statement calling for immediate action on the project and asking the two provinces and the federal government to form a steering committee to lead the work.
The premier’s office did not respond to a request for comment on the mayors’ suggestion.
