CBS submits $70 million wish list to Province and Ottawa

By Craig Westcott/November 4, 2022

CBS council has approved the submission of a $70.3 million wish list of projects it is hoping the federal and provincial governments will approve for funding, with a $50 million community centre at the top of it.

Other items include $8.8 million worth of work on the Long Pond breakwater, $1.8 million for water system improvements in Seal Cove, $1.2 million worth of street paving and upgrades throughout town, $3 million in water and sewer upgrades, $2 million to replace the Seal Cove bridge, and $2.5 million for Phase 49 of the Town’s water and sewer work.

Under the application, if approved in full, the federal government would borrow some $21.6 million to contribute towards the work, the Province would borrow $20.1 million, and the Town would be responsible for borrowing $20.1 million. That comes to a total of nearly $62 million with the difference of $8.4 million being the HST.

Applications under the so-called Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICEP) have to be approved first by the Province before going to the feds for consideration. This is the final year for the program.

“This is the last call for ICEP and this is our wish list,” acknowledged Deputy Mayor Andrea Gosse, who chairs council’s finance committee. “So, we put it all out there to see what sticks, see what we can avail of.”

Ward 3 councillor Gerard Tilley, who chairs the public works committee, said while $70 million seems like a lot of work, it will only cost CBS taxpayers $20 million. “It just shows that our staff are really looking for ways to do projects and save a lot of money,” Tilley said. “In all my years on council, I’ve never seen a $70 million dream come in one year. But there’s always one year that we can be hopeful for it.”

Mayor Darrin Bent pointed out the biggest project is the community centre. “We’ll wait and see how that goes,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll get there.”