Senate Committee — TRCM — Brief — trcm_s-273_brief_umnb_e

TRCM / Brief / trcm_s-273_brief_umnb_e

Senate Committees

Union of the Municipalities of New Brunswick | Union des municipalités du Nouveau-Brunswick 302-259 rue Brunswick St., Fredericton NB E3B 1G8 | Tel: (506) 444-2285 | info@umnb.ca | www.umnb.ca May 27, 2024 Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications The Senate of Canada Ottawa, Ontario Canada, K1A 0A4 Dear Honourable Senators, The Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick (UMNB) is adding its voice to that of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly in calling for the adoption of Bill S- 273

An Act to Declare the Chignecto Isthmus Dykeland System and related works to be for the general advantage of Canada. The UMNB is an organization that represents municipalities and almost 80% of the population including the communities along the Isthmus of Chignecto. Our members are concerned about the risk climate change is posing on the vulnerable stretch of land that connects Canada from coast to coast. The potential economic and social impacts of any closure of the isthmus would be devastating to New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and all of Canada.

As a key transportation corridor connecting the country, it is critical that funding be allocated, and that work begin to address the vulnerabilities immediately. Bill S-273 presents a solution to the problem of which order of government is responsible for the isthmus. There is only one taxpayer and seeing the recent announcement by the federal government to acquire the Quebec Bridge, it is important and equitable that the federal government consider a similar funding arrangement for the Isthmus of Chignecto. If Canadians can find funding for that bridge, then there should be a similar approach for the isthmus.

This stretch of land benefits all of Canada, not just New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Additionally, our members are concerned that if the isthmus is funded via the Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund (DMAF), as is the option being presented by the federal government, that the sheer cost of the isthmus would prevent access to any other community in New Brunswick and possibly even Atlantic Canada. DMAF remains critical to building climate resilient communities, especially in a coastal province.

As the climate continues to change, our communities will be increasingly challenged to address the needs of their communities. Which means funding like DMAF will be critical to protecting infrastructure in local communities. While the isthmus itself is of national interest and requires a national response.

The UMNB is requesting that Bill S-273 be adopted and that funding and work on the Isthmus of Chignecto begin immediately to ensure our economy and Union of the Municipalities of New Brunswick | Union des municipalités du Nouveau-Brunswick 302-259 rue Brunswick St., Fredericton NB E3B 1G8 | Tel: (506) 444-2285 | info@umnb.ca | www.umnb.ca communities are protected from climate change and that Atlantic Canada remains connected to the rest of Canada. Thank you, Senators, for your consideration and should you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out.

We look forward to seeing meaningful action on this important project soon. Sincerely, Andrew Black, President Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick CC: NB MPs NB Senators Dan Murphy, Executive Director, UMNB

Document details

Collection	Senate Committees
Citation	TRCM / Brief / trcm_s-273_brief_umnb_e
Type	committee
Volume / chapter	441 / Brief / trcm_s-273_brief_umnb_e
Language	en
Format	pdf
Source	COMM_SEN
Identifier	7510e56c84083a7777575688ffb2ce8f300804d2

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