The Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Secretariat will lead media relations on gas tax and transit projects, working in partnership with Infrastructure Canada as well as municipalities and transit organizations, unless otherwise agreed upon.

With input from program participants, the Secretariat will coordinate the development of media advisories and news releases. Program participants will assist with the development of backgrounders or fact sheets on the projects – as well as provide names and contact information of local media who have an interest in the project.

If the Secretariat and Infrastructure Canada decide to issue a news release, it will:

include a federal, provincial and municipal quotes (if more than one municipality is involved, the UNSM will represent them); and
be distributed through Communications Nova Scotia (their policies on language will be followed).

If a municipality or transit organization would like to issue its own news release, there is no requirement for federal and provincial quotes. However, program participants are required to acknowledge the contribution of the federal government. CNSIS would also like to have notice of the release and an opportunity to offer input and a quote, if appropriate. The guidelines below should help you determine how to refer to the agreements if you’re writing a news release.

Guidelines on Referring to the Agreements

Gas Tax: The name of the agreement is: Canada-Nova Scotia Agreement on the Transfer of Federal Gas Tax Revenues. In subsequent references, it can also be referred to as:

the gas tax agreement
the federal-provincial gas tax agreement
the federal gas tax fund
the gas tax fund
not the fund

Transit: The Government of Canada’s Transit Fund encompasses the Canada-Nova Scotia Agreement on the Transfer of Federal Public Transit Funds and the Federal Public Transit Capital Trust Fund, but the short version is fine for the first reference. In subsequent references, it can also be referred to as:

the public transit fund
the federal-provincial public transit agreement
the federal public transit fund
not the fund

Government of Canada: can be referred to as the federal government on subsequent references.

Province of Nova Scotia: can be referred to as the provincial government or the Nova Scotia government on subsequent references.

Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Secretariat: can be referred to as the CNSIS on subsequent references, provided the acronym is included in brackets after the full name on the first reference.