Land Agreement, Funding for Shubenacadie Canal Announced

October 6, 2014 1:13 PM

A backgrounder on the title history of the owner-unknown land at lock 4 and adverse possession on private land is available at
http://novascotia.ca/natr/land/new-purchases.asp.

The Department of Natural Resources has signed an agreement to provide a safe portage route for paddlers between Lake Thomas and Fletchers Lake in Fall River, as part of the historic Shubenacadie Canal System.Government is also providing $35,000 to the Shubenacadie Canal Commission to help manage and maintain the canal.

“This land agreement and the province’s funding for the canal commission will help everyone better enjoy this unique historic waterway,” said Zach Churchill, Minister of Natural Resources.
“I want to thank the adjacent landowner, Mrs. Agnes Garnett, for her co-operation in helping achieve a land-use plan that accommodates paddlers.”

The department created the land-use plan after listening to the public, researching land records and considering the land claim of Mrs. Garnett. Mrs. Garnett agreed to alter her land claim so the Crown could take ownership of enough land to create the public portage route, as requested by the Shubenacadie Canal Commission, the Mi’kmaq, and the City of Halifax.

“We are pleased this portage route at Lock 4 of our historic canal system has been clarified for public use and we would like to thank all of the parties who worked in good faith to resolve this issue,” said Suzanne Roy, vice-chair of the Shubenacadie Canal Commission.

The commission oversees management of the canal system with support from the province.

To create the public portage route, the department will trim trees, widen the water access steps, plant shrubs and post signs.

A map of the proposed portage route is available at
http://novascotia.ca/natr/land/new-purchases.asp .

FOR BROADCAST USE:

The Department of Natural Resources has signed an agreement for a public portage route between Lake Thomas and Fletchers Lake at the Shubenacadie Canal System.

Government is also giving 35-thousand dollars to the Shubenacadie Canal Commission to help maintain the canal.

Natural Resources Minister Zach Churchill says the agreement, and the provincial funding will benefit everyone who uses the historic waterway.He also thanks Agnes Garnett, an adjacent landowner who altered her claim on the land so the province could take possession.

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Media Contact: Bruce Nunn
902-424-5239
Cell: 902-476-6454
E-mail: nunnbx@gov.ns.ca