The Fisheries Department estimates it would cost between $20,000 and $25,000 to fix up the lighthouse. (Submitted by Gayle Hawker)The weathered lighthouse at Peggys Cove will be repainted after all.
Nova Scotia MP Gerald Keddy told the House of Commons on Friday that the government wants the paint job done this year.
"It should be noted that I spoke directly to the minister of fisheries about this. She gave clear orders last fall for the lighthouse to be painted. It wasn't painted last fall. It will be painted this year," Keddy said.
Tourists and tourism operators have complained about the iconic lighthouse near Halifax. The paint is peeling, there are rust stains and the concrete is crumbling in places.
On Thursday, an official with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, which is responsible for the lighthouse, said it cannot afford to spend $25,000 to repaint the 15-metre structure.
Nova Scotia's representative in cabinet, Defence Minister Peter MacKay, told CBC News he immediately made arrangements after hearing about the tarnished beacon.
MacKay said he spoke with Keddy and Monique Collette, the president of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, about funding the paint job through ACOA's Innovative Communities Fund.
"The money is not prohibitive. Let's just make this happen as soon as possible," MacKay said.
He said the work will begin within weeks.
Peggys Cove is one of Nova Scotia's top tourist draws. About one million people visit the site every year, according to the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia).
