Nova Scotia, New Brunswick hire project manager for Chignecto Isthmus project

The governments of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have signed a contract with a project manager to oversee the strengthening of the Chignecto Isthmus.

But Public Works Minister Kim Masland cannot say how the two provinces will split costs related to that contract with Colliers Canada or any other future work connected to the project.

The two governments signed a memorandum of understanding last April.

"It basically says that we will continue to work together to make sure this project is done," Masland told reporters at Province House on Thursday.

She said "it's too early to ask" how the two provinces will determine who pays for what.

The minister said that for now each province will cover the cost of work that falls within its borders. To date, Nova Scotia has spent about $1 million related to the isthmus.

Masland said the contract with Colliers Canada will be paid as a billable rate expected to be worth up to $500,000 in total.

While the two provinces attempt to figure out how they'll pay their bills, they're in a public fight with the federal government over whether they should pay anything at all.

Money could go elsewhere

Federal cabinet ministers Dominic LeBlanc and Sean Fraser recently wrote to New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston. They told them that if they don't agree to accept $325 million from Ottawa for the project via the federal Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, they risk that money going elsewhere.

Ottawa has said it is willing to pay 50 per cent of the cost and have New Brunswick and Nova Scotia split the other half. Nova Scotia has asked the province's Court of Appeal to rule on whether the isthmus and work related to it is entirely a federal responsibility.

Higgs has told Ottawa that he would take the money but continue to fight the federal government in court. Houston has refused to confirm if he would do the same.