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    1. Management

    Joint funding of more than C$1.3 million to connect Transit Cape Breton's services to underserved rural areas across Cape Breton Regional Municipality

    Dec. 21, 2022
    With this funding, United Way Cape Breton will acquire a minibus, a standard bus and establish five bus shelters throughout rural areas of the CBRM.
    Related To: Infrastructure Canada

    The government of Canada and Regional Municipality of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, are contributing joint funding of more than C$1.3 million (US$954,265) to connect Transit Cape Breton's services to underserved rural areas across the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM).

    With this funding, United Way Cape Breton will acquire a minibus, a standard bus and establish five bus shelters throughout rural areas of the CBRM. These new vehicles and bus shelters will build on the existing transit system in the CBRM and in nearby communities, enabling residents, many of which are lower-income and seniors, to access education opportunities, go to work, attend social activities and do their day-to-day activities.

    The government of Canada is investing C$473,862 (US$347,876.69) in this project, the Regional Municipality of Cape Breton is providing C$653,859 (US$480,018.03), and United Way Cape Breton is investing C$174,479 (US$128,120.98).

    “The purchase of new buses and the installment of five bus shelters for United Way Cape Breton will provide local residents in rural areas with better transit options to connect with nearby communities and to access critical programs and services. This investment helps to contribute to a connected future for rural Nova Scotians living in the community,” said Jaime Battiste, parliamentary secretary to the minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and member of parliament for Sydney—Victoria.

    "Transportation is an essential part of day-to-day life. It is how people get to school and places of employment. It is how people access health care, attend social gatherings and is vital to creating accessible and inclusive communities. We are incredibly grateful for the long-standing partnership Cape Breton Regional Municipality has with the United Way of Cape Breton that has resulted in this important funding investment in CBRM Transit. By investing in Transit systems, we are able to connect more communities and people across the CBRM,” said Amanda McDougall, mayor of Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

    "We are thrilled with today's funding announcement by Minister Battiste to strengthen public transit infrastructure for those in rural communities in the CBRM. This investment in infrastructure will be a complement to the work we've been doing to help provide better transportation options to vulnerable community members. We've been working closely with the CBRM, Transit Cape Breton, the Cape Breton Partnership, District 11, Common Good Solutions and the Province of Nova Scotia on a transportation pilot program for low-income and social inclusion for the last two years. Investment in transit infrastructure allows us to continue to advocate for viable transportation options for all community members,” said Lynne McCarron, executive director of United Way Cape Breton

    The government of Canada's funding comes from the Rural Transit Solutions Fund and will provide C$250 million (US$183 million) over five years to help Canadians living in rural and remote areas get around their communities more easily. It supports the development of rural transit solutions, including new transit service models that could be replicated or scaled up.