SHELBURNE – The Municipality of the District of Shelburne today announced priority projects identified for federal and provincial government stimulus packages. Council acknowledges that the economy remains a priority for ratepayers and more focus must be given to protecting traditional industries like the lobster fishery, and to diversify the economy beyond our traditional industries.

The Municipality held an unprecedented number of open, public consultations in every district of the municipality and Council heard from several community organizations. Council has heard directly from several people throughout the Municipality as to what priorities Council should be moving forward.

The Government of Canada and the Government of Nova Scotia recently announced billions of dollars in new spending to stimulate the economy in the current recession. Council intends to work with senior officials in the other levels of government to move these projects forward as part of their respective stimulus packages.

The current list of strategic priority projects is as follows:

Roads, Bridges, Highways

• Highway 103 upgrades with special consideration to the Granite Village and Sable River areas.
  
• Secondary Road Upgrades – a greater share of the overall provincial budget to match immediate projects.

Schools and Information Technology

• Enhanced NSCC program offerings at Shelburne campus including courses related to the marine industry and School of Fisheries.
  
• Security Training for provincial security guards to be located at Bowood properties.
  
• RCMP Maritime Training Centre.

Healthy and Safe Communities

• Physician Recruitment.
  
• New municipal sewage treatment plant.
  
• Population Strategy.
  
• Feasibility Study for local Farmer’s Market and Local Food Products.

Tourism, Culture and Heritage

• Black Loyalist Heritage Society Interpretive Centre.
  
• Enhanced Island’s Provincial Park Infrastructure including wharf.
  
• Roseway Beach and other beach infrastructure to preserve environment and promote responsible use.
  
• Municipal public boat launches and rest stops.
  
• Enhance trails infrastructure.

Other economic infrastructure priorities for the Municipality of Shelburne:

• Servicing the Shelburne Industrial Park (sewage, water, roads, etc).
  
• Purchase and develop Industrial Park lands.
  
• Economic development marketing strategy and economic asset mapping project (with the Town of Shelburne).
  
• Ohio Power Service.
  
• Cranberry industry pilot project.

Council will be sending a letter to Premier MacDonald in the coming days to inform him of the Municipality’s strategic priorities.

Contact: Kirk Cox, CAO
902.875.3544 ext. 223
kcox@municipalityofshelburne.ca