HALIFAX — The federal and Nova Scotia governments have announced an additional $15 million for a new Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre in Halifax.

The new money announced today brings the total contribution to the centre from both levels of government to about $50 million.

Halifax MP Andy Fillmore says Ottawa will invest another $5 million in addition to the roughly $34 million it had already set aside for the project.

Karla MacFarlane, Nova Scotia’s minister of L’nu affairs, says the province is contributing $10 million to the new building.

The friendship centre offers more than 55 programs for such things as early childhood education, housing support, language training and harm reduction.

Pam Glode Desrochers, executive director of the centre, says demolition on the existing building at the edge of Citadel Hill will begin shortly, adding that she hopes construction on the new centre will start next spring.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2023.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

The Canadian Press