Higgs warns other disaster funding in doubt if feds approve Isthmus money

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OTTAWA • Premier Blaine Higgs is warning that if the feds use its Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund to pay to fix the Chignecto Isthmus it will mean there’s little money left for any other climate change infrastructure project across the country.

Higgs made the comments while speaking in front of a Senate committee last week.

It’s part of a push to see the feds pay more than just the 50 per cent it’s offering to safeguard the vulnerable strip of land connecting New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

The feds called on the two provinces to submit an application to its Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund before a deadline last summer.

The formula to unlock those funds caps the federal contribution to provincial projects at half the cost.

New Brunswick and Nova Scotia begrudgingly filed an application, but continue to call on the feds to pay more.

On Wednesday night, in front of a Senate committee studying a bill that aims to bring the vital Chignecto Isthmus corridor under federal jurisdiction, Higgs made the argument that other climate infrastructure projects won’t get funding if the feds continue to insist on funding the Isthmus through an existing fund.

The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund is a $3.375 billion national merit-based program that supports large-scale infrastructure projects to help communities better manage the risks of natural disasters.

The feds say just over $1 billion in funding is available in the current application round.

Higgs and others said during testimony that roughly $800 million of that remains unspent.

If the feds use that fund to pay its half of the $650-million Chignecto Isthmus price tag, it would leave just $475 million for anything else.

“Infrastructure Canada’s Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund is inappropriate for a project of national importance like protecting the Chignecto Isthmus,” Higgs said. “The fund is over-subscribed with other provincial and territorial applications competing for the remaining $800 million in funding.

“Even at 50-cent dollars, the estimated total $650-million cost will limit the ability of all provincial and territorial governments from accessing the remaining funds.

“Clearly, the Chignecto project must be treated differently.”

Nova Scotia says it puts other projects it has submitted applications for in doubt.

“We’ve made 15 other applications, so it leaves us with the end result of trying to pick and choose what we do for important projects,” said Nova Scotia Public Works Minister Kim Masland.

The Higgs government confirmed the province has six projects seeking money, a number that includes the Isthmus.

One of those is Sussex, which has said it’s looking for $15 million from the same fund as part of a $38-million flood mitigation plan.

Two others have been submitted by the province, two from Indigenous organizations, and one other one from a municipality, according to the Higgs government.

The feds contend a long list of projects are receiving funding.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Sean Fraser’s office said in a statement that the adaptation fund has already provided $2.8 billion to 115 projects across the country.

“And we are working with partners to finalize additional funding agreements,” said spokesperson Micaal Ahmed.

Still, the concern of money simply not being there for some projects was brought up repeatedly at the committee hearing.

“There is a problem with the current funding arrangement,” Lyle Skinner, director of parliamentary affairs for Sen. Jim Quinn, also told the committee.

“The Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, it’s over subscribed.

“What does it mean for folks who aren’t from New Brunswick? It means even at 50-cent dollars, there’s only $800 million left in the overall funding envelope which means it prevents other well-deserving projects from seeking the funding.”