News Release

INVERNESS, N.S. --Two significant projects in Inverness County were announced today. Representing a total investment of $1,480,435, they will enhance the County's business, culture and tourism sectors. They were announced during an event held at the Inverness Miners’ Museum.

"These projects will bring many benefits to Inverness County and the community of Inverness through the establishment of important pieces of industrial and tourism infrastructure. The Government of Canada is pleased to be working in partnership with the Municipality and the local Council of the Arts whose projects are widely supported in the community," said Rodger Cuzner, Member of Parliament for Bras D'Or - Cape Breton, speaking on behalf of Robert G. Thibault, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation.

The projects are the establishment of an Arts & Culture Centre for Inverness County by the Inverness County Council of the Arts (ICCA) and an infrastructure project that will improve water quality and flow in the community of Inverness and complement industrial activity.

"We are proud to be a partner in these projects, which will create new opportunities for prosperity," said Rodney MacDonald, Nova Scotia Tourism and Culture Minister who was also speaking on behalf of Angus MacIsaac, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations. “Many people have worked hard to secure these projects, and we strongly support their efforts to build the economy of Inverness County and to enhance quality of life.”

The Arts & Culture Centre for Inverness County will be established by the Inverness County Council of the Arts and provide a space to promote the production and sale of the work of Cape Breton Island artists and artisans of all disciplines. The objective is to reach an up-scale international market through direct sales as well as e-commerce.

The total estimated cost of the Arts & Culture Centre project is $989,957. Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) will contribute $500,000 through the Fisheries Restructuring Adjustment Measures Program (FRAM) and $250,000 through the ECBC Program. The Nova Scotia Department of Tourism and Culture will contribute $50,000. The project involves the construction of a building on the site of the former weather station in the community of Inverness. The Municipality of the County of Inverness donated the four-acre site for the project.

The ICCA will sustain the operation of the facility through its activities including workshops, exhibits and gallery sales. The construction and operation of the Arts & Culture Centre will establish a much needed facility for Inverness County's tourism industry and enhance the tourism infrastructure on the Ceilidh Trail.

The Municipality of the County of Inverness will undertake the water infrastructure project with the objective of improving water supply and quality in the Town of Inverness. The project will complement the ongoing investment in the Cape Breton Seafoods Ltd. plant by its new owners, Daley Brothers Limited of St. John's, Newfoundland.

The total estimated cost of the water project is $440,000. ECBC will make a $286,000 contribution through the FRAM Program. Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations will contribute $154,000 under the Provincial Capital Asistance Program. The project will maintain 120 jobs with a potential for creating an additional 100 jobs as a result of increased capacity at the local fish processing operation.

Phase I of the two phase project will identify a suitable site, drill a test hole, obtain samples and determine water quality. Phase II will include completion of a screened production well, further testing and the installation of transmission infrastructure. The enhanced water supply will also improve service to other existing businesses and facilities and prepare the community for future economic development.

Funding for these projects was provided for in the February 2000 Federal budget and is therefore built into the existing financial framework.

In June 1998, the Government of Canada announced that $93.8 million would be set aside for the economic development component of the $730 million Fisheries Restructuring and Adjustment Measures (FRAM) in the four Atlantic Provinces. The amount available for affected communities in Nova Scotia is $21.3 million. This amount is available over three years for long-term, sustainable economic development initiatives in communities and areas in Nova Scotia affected by the permanent downsizing of the Atlantic groundfishery. On Cape Breton Island, ECBC works in partnership with key regional and community development stakeholders to implement the economic development initiatives of the FRAM program.

Jennifer Savoy
Minister Robert G. Thibault’s Office
Tel: (613) 941-7291
Fax:(613) 941-7844

Tina Thibeau
Office of Rodger Cuzner, M.P.
1-902-578-5547

Marcie Stanley, ECBC
Communications Officer
Tel: (902) 564-7876
Fax:(902) 564-3825

Robyn MacIssac
Communications
Service Nova Scotia
Tel: (902) 424-6336

Angela Poirier
Communications
Nova Scotia Tourism and Culture
Tel: (902) 424-1593
Fax: (902) 424-4872

Steven Basker, President
Inverness County Council of the Arts
Tel: (902) 258-2533

Ms. Kate Beaton, Acting Chief Administrative Officer
Municipality of the County of Inverness
Tel: (902) 787-2274