Premier holds firm on feds responsibility for Chignecto Isthmus upgrades

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says he still believes upgrades to protect the Chignecto Isthmus are a federal responsibility.

A strip of land connecting Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the Chignecto Isthmus, is at risk of flooding due to climate change but the provincial and federal governments are at odds about the $650 million bill to repair the outdated dikes in the region.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Houston said he met with federal officials and reaffirmed his stance that the government should foot 100 per cent of the bill to support upgrades on the land link.

“It is a nationally significant trade corridor,” said Houston. “It is literally our connection to the rest of the country so it is my position that they should pay 100 per cent and I have reiterated that position.”

In August, federal cabinet ministers threatened to pull an offer of $325 million to protect a vital land link unless the two provinces agree to share costs.

Houston said on Thursday he hasn’t seen any official offer from federal government as of yet.