Ottawa to assess impact of climate change on Nova Scotia’s land link to Canada

Ottawa is spending $350,000 to study a critical transportation link connecting New Brunswick and Nova Scotia that could be washed away by rising sea levels and storm surges.

Nova Scotia MP Bill Casey said the study will look at the effect of climate change on centuries-old dikes and key infrastructure in the Chignecto Isthmus Trade Corridor, including the Trans-Canada Highway, the Canadian National rail line and electricity transmission lines.

READ: Opposition sounds alarm on Nova Scotia’s only land link to Canada

A statement today says the study will involve an engineering assessment of existing infrastructure, consultation and options to protect the corridor, which carries an estimated $50 million worth of trade each day.

The initiative comes amid increasing calls for something to be done to maintain the land link between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia by raising and reinforcing dikes at the narrow isthmus that joins the provinces.

WATCH: Rising sea levels could bring geographic changes to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick

The NDP in Nova Scotia said the governing Liberals should spend at least $10 million per year on maintaining the dikes in each of the next five years.

Last fall, the mayor of Amherst also raised concerns about the condition of the historic Acadian dikes and their ability to hold back rising sea levels occurring due to climate change.