News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PRIME MINISTER HARPER WRITES PREMIER RODNEY MACDONALD ON PLAN TO RESTORE FISCAL BALANCE IN CANADA

March 19, 2007
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today wrote Premier Rodney MacDonald to outline the benefits for Nova Scotia in the fiscal balance plan set out in Budget 2007.

The plan announced today is based on national principles, while treating each province fairly and meeting the government's commitments.

Prime Minister Harper's letter highlighted the following issues:

Nova Scotia will continue to receive the full benefits provided under its offshore Accord, without a cap, while keeping the Equalization regime it had when it signed those Accords.

The province will have the right to opt into the new Equalization regime permanently at any time it chooses to do so in the future.

Our formula for allocating infrastructure transfers provides all jurisdictions with floor funding of $25 million per year. This recognizes the particular challenges facing provinces and territories with smaller populations.

The national infrastructure program announced in Budget 2007 also contains a component for nationally significant infrastructure – including gateways and I encourage you to continue to work with my Ministers to further develop the Atlantic Gateway concept.

Prime Minister Harper concluded that "our plan delivers what we promised to the people of Nova Scotia."

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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