Nova Scotia joins other provinces in infrastructure stimulus effort, adds $230M for ‘shovel-ready’ work
By On-Site Staff
Construction Financing Infrastructure
Stephen McNeil announced the funding in a press conference May 27. PHOTO: Province of Nova Scotia/YouTube
Nova Scotia is upping its capital spending plan for the year by nearly 25 per cent to help the province’s economy regain momentum post-pandemic.
Premier Stephen McNeil announced the $230 million stimulus push May 27.
“As the private sector turns to reopening their businesses, the province has a role to play in getting people back to work,” McNeil said in a release. “It’s time to address the economic impacts of COVID-19 and plan for recovery.”
The nearly quarter billion dollars in new infrastructure spending adds to $1 billion already on provincial books for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
McNeil said the funds will go to “shovel-ready” projects — from roadwork to courthouse and hospital renovations. The province has already singled out a range of jobs for support, including work on the Halifax provincial court, upgrades at Nova Scotia Community College and the replacement of a half dozen bridges.
The initiative from the Maritime province is the latest in a string of stimulus announcements. Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have already announced increased infrastructure spending as Canada puts the worst weeks of the pandemic behind it and works to get back on track.
The government estimates the funding will directly support 1,500 jobs. It said it will issue tenders for the new or accelerated projects over the next four weeks.
