Derek B. Brett dbb@burnsidelaw.net
January 12, 2016
VIA CANADA POST & ELECTRONIC MAIL
(TIRMIN@NOVASCOTIA.CA)
Honourable Geoff MacLellan
Minister of Transportation & Infrastructure Renewal
Second Floor, Johnston Building
1672 Granville Street
P.O. Box 186
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2N2
RE:
Greater Burnside Business Association (“GBBA”) Inquiry Into Status of Burnside
Expressway
Dear Minister MacLellan:
I write as Vice Chair of the Greater Burnside Business Association. As you may be aware, the GBBA is the representative organization for the businesses of Burnside – the largest industrial park in Atlantic Canada. Hundreds of businesses operate out of Burnside, relying upon provincial and federal resources to maintain and improve the infrastructure of that area, inclusive of transportation concerns.
Of course, a key issue to the business constituents of Burnside remains the long-promised construction of the Burnside Expressway. This development has been a promise of provincial governments dating back to at least 1989. Unfortunately, the completion of the project has been the subject of continuous changes and delays.
Naturally, the GBBA is aware that some of these changes and delays were perhaps somewhat unanticipated including, but not limited to, the changing of the Expressway’s route; the potential environmental assessment of Anderson Lake and the effects on the fish population; the Department of National Defence (“DND”) allowing targeted land to be declared surplus (followed by it being transferred to Canada Lands for transfer to the Province); and the still-unrealized clearance of all ordinances in the vicinity. Yet, the passage of twenty-seven (27) years certainly constitutes an excessive amount of time; the fulfillment of the Provincial and Federal Government’s commitments should no longer remain elusive.

January 26, 2016
Page 2
Recently, it may have come to your attention that two Nova Scotia Ministers of Parliament addressed the House of Commons – specifically with regard to the final fulfillment of the Burnside
Expressway.
1 Obviously, these comments did not go unnoticed by the GBBA and its members.
Accordingly, we are calling upon the Provincial Government to take whatever actions necessary and proper to coordinate the completion of the Expressway. Indeed, in a political climate reflecting an extraordinary opportunity for both the majority governments in Ottawa and Halifax – alongside a recognized need to dedicate funding to core infrastructure – there exists significant momentum to permitting the final fulfillment of Burnside Expressway.
To whatever degree necessary, the GBBA is willing to do whatever is reasonably necessary to assist the respective governments in achieving its commitments to Burnside, its businesses and to all affected constituencies. We recognize the pivotal importance of this roadway for the future of continued, lasting business growth for the area. We recognize the Province’s previously stated prioritization of the project. Yet, we also feel that more than sufficient time has passed for talk – it is finally time for real action.
We look forward to all future communications on this matter and to the prospect of service as a partner in the drive to the completion of the Burnside Expressway
Sincerely,
DEREK B. BRETT
Vice Chair – Greater Burnside Business Association cc: Honourable Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament
Honourable Darrell Samson, Member of Parliament
DBB/mle
1 http://www.burnsidenews.com/News/Local/2015-12-16/article-4377788/Burnside-Expressway-discussed-in-
House-of-Commons/1?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook