Houston & Higgs Agree on Urgent Flood Plan

Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have agreed to proceed with the restoration of the Isthmus of Chignecto flood protection.

The two provinces, neighbours to the high profile flood plain, say the project cannot wait while they negotiate with Ottawa over the cost, which has ballooned from $400 million to $650 million dollars during the delay.

Premiers Tim Houston and Blaine Higgs met with the local Member of Parliament, Federal Infrastructure Minister Dominic LeBlanc yesterday.

The meeting followed on the heels of Houston’s appearance on Six Rivers Radio, on Monday, when he announced that Nova Scotia would go it alone, if necessary.

The three levels of government have agreed on what needs to be done, but were wrangling over who pays and when to start.

The federal government is offering fifty percent while the locals believe the need is of national importance and should be born entirely by Ottawa.

Aside from the money dispute, Houston says the project must start ASAP because the recent hurricanes, Dorian and Fiona, demonstrated that damage would be catastrophic if a major storm arrived simultaneously with a regular high tide, something narrowly missed with the two most recent hurricanes.

The two provinces will apply for funds based on the 50 percent deal to get the project started, then deal through the federal court, if necessary, to get Ottawa to pay the full share.

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