SHELBURNE – The Council of the Municipality of Shelburne is urging Irving Shipbuilding and the Province of Nova Scotia to reach a timely settlement on outstanding issues related to the sale and expansion of Shelburne Ship Repair.

In a letter to Premier Darrel Dexter and to Irving Shipbuilding today, Warden Sherm Embree stressed the importance of the approximately 50 jobs to the area and the importance of preserving local jobs. “I urge you to work with Shelburne Ship Repair and reach a timely resolution to the negotiations and ensure local jobs at Shelburne Ship Repair are preserved and maintained.” Warden Embree said in a letter sent to the Premier, Economic Development Percy Paris, and local MLA Sterling Belliveau today.

The Province of Nova Scotia and Irving Shipbuilding have been negotiating terms of a potential infrastructure upgrade at the Shelburne Ship Repair site for several months. Negotiations are now more time sensitive as the facility will now have difficulty taking on new projects without an immediate upgrade to the slipway. This will result in the immediate layoff of almost the entire existing workforce. 

In discussions at this week’s Committee of the Whole, Council highlighted the importance of Shelburne Ship Repair to the local economy, and Council also mentioned the precedent of the Government of Nova Scotia making similar investments in other areas of the province. Irving currently leases the property in the Shelburne Industrial Park from Nova Scotia Business Inc.

Contact: Kirk Cox
Chief Administrative Officer
902.875.6776
kcox@municipalityofshelburne.ca

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