Bricks and mortar are on the minds of many university presidents in Nova Scotia as the Conservative government prepares a budget expected to include major infrastructure spending
to stimulate the economy.
Cape Breton University president John Harker said there are places at his institution that need immediate attention.
“Some of our buildings are quite an age now and some are 40 years old. We really need to see things like windows and doors replaced,” said Harker, adding the immediate repairs to basic infrastructure are estimated to cost $6 million.
“Our list that we submitted was of very critical things … We can’t really always go on deferring dealing with brick failure and windows that leak energy.”
The Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents reports an infrastructure deficit of $543 million among the 11 degree-granting post-secondary institutions in Nova Scotia. The council’s revised plan calls for the province to invest $85 million in projects determined to be most critical.
