CBRM News

Municipality to consider funding application to provincial and federal governments for seawall repairs

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Created: Sunday, 24 March 2013 10:10

March 24, 2013

SYDNEY, NS - Mayor Cecil Clarke said today that the Cape Breton Regional Municipality will be asked to formally apply for federal and provincial cost-shared funding for repairs to the Gabarus seawall.

"We have met with Fisheries Minister Keith Ashfield, MP Rodger Cuzner and MLA Alfie MacLeod and I feel we have an opening now to take a next step," said Clarke. "The Minister indicated he would look within government for funding on the basis that seawall repairs are a cost-shared project with all three levels of government. We are moving forward on that basis."

Clarke said he will seek council support for making the funding application on behalf of the Municipality.

District 7 Councillor Ivan Doncaster represents the Gabarus area and he says the federal Minister's openness to a cost-shared project represents the best opportunity for the funding to repair the seawall. The Minister indicated a cost-sharing arrangement could work at a meeting with Mayor Clarke late last month.

"If we can secure a commitment for funding from all three levels of government we could get the repairs underway this spring," said Doncaster. "There will need to be a long term plan for the seawall and I'm committed to keeping that issue on the agenda until a resolution is found."

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality previously committed $100,000 to the project

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