Canada and Nova Scotia invest in new ferry for Tancook Islands residents and visitors

The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia recognize the different ways that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted smaller and rural communities across the province. Both governments are making strategic investments in infrastructure to meet the specific needs of rural Nova Scotian municipalities and help them strengthen their local economies.

"Strong and modern infrastructure is an essential building block for healthy and prosperous rural communities. The Tancook Island ferry replacement will improve access to essential services for residents, while opening the community to new tourism and business opportunities."

The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and Canadian Coast Guard, Member of Parliament for South Shore−St. Margaret's, on behalf of Maryam Monsef, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development

"The new ferry will help ensure a safe and reliable service to residents and visitors of Tancook Islands. It will also improve access to essential services such as ambulances as well as economic and tourism opportunities."

The Honourable Lloyd Hines, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal

• The Tancook Island Ferry replacement project is one of many infrastructure projects in small or rural communities in Nova Scotia receiving federal funding under the Investing in Canada program. Other recent projects include the decontamination of the former Riverport School property in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, and upgrades to the existing wastewater systems in the Town of Bridgewater.

• Through the Investing in Canada plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.

• $2 billion of this funding is supporting infrastructure projects that meet the unique needs of rural and northern communities to grow local economies, improve social inclusiveness, better safeguard the health and environment of rural and northern communities, and enhance broadband connectivity. In addition, $400 million is being delivered through the Arctic Energy Fund to advance energy security in the territories.

• The Government of Canada has invested more than $818 million in 196 infrastructure projects across Nova Scotia under the Investing in Canada plan.

• To support Canadians and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new stream has been added to the over $33-billion Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program to help fund pandemic-resilient infrastructure. Existing program streams have also been adapted to include more eligible project categories, and some administrative requirements have been streamlined to accommodate faster approvals.

• The COVID-19 Resilience Stream will help other orders of governments whose finances have been significantly impacted by the pandemic by increasing the federal cost share for public infrastructure projects to up to 80% in the provinces. Federal funding will cover 100% of the cost of projects in the territories and for projects with Indigenous recipients.

• The Canada Healthy Communities Initiative will provide up to $31 million in existing federal funding to support communities as they deploy innovative new ways to adapt spaces and services to respond to immediate and ongoing needs arising from COVID-19 over the next two years.