The communities we live in are our centres of social and economic activity. Our qualities of life are directly related to the local infrastructure which provides the places for us to come together and the means by which our economy operates. 

Highway upgrades are important to both ensure safety and to keep pace with development.  Improving Highway 101 has been a particularly important issue for me and I know for many residents of Kings-Hants.  It was a tremendous pleasure to sign an agreement with the Province of Nova Scotia in October 2005 that provides $30.5 million from the Government of Canada to be put toward this and other highway projects. This funding will assist with two phases of Highway 101 twinning in Kings-Hants: Ellershouse to Windsor-Wentworth Road and Falmouth to Avonport.

As Member of Parliament, I was also satisfied that federal funding was provided to both the new Windsor Regional Library and the new Kentville Soccer Centre.

The New Deal for Cities and Communities signed by the Government of Canada and the Nova Scotia Government on September 23, 2005, will deliver more than $145 million over five years to Nova Scotia in federal gas tax funding.  It will contribute to environmentally sustainable municipal infrastructure, public transit, roads, bridges, improved drinking water and wastewater handling.