Joint Letter from Atlantic Chambers Re: Chignecto Isthmus

 
The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6
 
Re: Chignecto Isthmus
 
Dear Minister,
 
We are writing to request the commencement of restoration work on the Chignecto Isthmus.
 
The Isthmus is an area of marshland that is below sea level and is vulnerable to storms and flooding. Since Confederation, Canada has always considered the railway between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick to be a matter of national importance, and the rail corridor was a determining factor in both provinces joining Canada. The importance of this corridor was reaffirmed by the Government of Canada in 1948 through federal infrastructure funding that repaired nearly 400 km of dykes and over 400 aboiteaux of the isthmus. At that time, the Federal Government primarily funded repairs and worked collaboratively with other levels of government to assist in local organizing efforts.
 
This year, the Senate of Canada also reaffirmed the importance of the isthmus in Canada by declaring the dyke network as being “for the general advantage of Canada.”
 
There are numerous transportation and energy transmission linkages that, if interrupted, would have enormous economic impacts on people and businesses in and outside Atlantic Canada. The Trans-Canada Highway, the Canadian National Rail Line, the High Voltage interconnect, fiber-optical cables, a wind farm and the Maritimes and Northeast Gas Pipeline span this narrow stretch of land. 
 
It is estimated that goods and services worth more than $35 billion per annum pass through the corridor which links Atlantic Canada to the remainder of Canada and markets beyond. Given its historical and ongoing importance, the Government of Canada has a clear responsibility to Atlantic Canadians to ensure this work is completed by working collaboratively with all levels of government, including regional and provincial partners. It’s time to get it done!
 
We ask you to prioritize investing in essential preventative repairs for this critical corridor now.
 
Sincerely,
 
Atlantic Chamber of Commerce
Burin Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Cumberland Chamber of Commerce
Sussex and District Chamber of Commerce
Truro and Colchester Chamber
Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade
Lunenburg Board of Trade
Fredericton Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton
Valley Chamber of Commerce
 Greater Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce
Pictou County Chamber of Commerce
Bay Verte Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
Eastern Charlotte Chamber of Commerce
Labrador North Chamber of Commerce
Mount Pearl-Paradise Chamber of Commerce
Halifax Chamber of Commerce
Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce
Cap-Acadie Chamber of Commerce
 
CC:
 
The Honourable Sean Fraser
The Honourable Gudie Hutchings
The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor