Cape Breton Regional Council has voted to contribute $2 million toward a $38-million project to dredge Sydney harbour.

The council is the first level of government to publicly commit money for the dredging. Neither the federal nor the provincial governments have announced whether they will contribute.

"I encourage everybody out there to write letters, to email, to phone your MLAs," said Coun. Mae Rowe. "This is our future. This is our children's and our grandchildren's future. It has to happen for this community."

A dredged harbour would allow the city to receive giant cargo ships that are too big for most other ports on the continent.

The dredging company has set a deadline of May 14 for Sydney Marine Group to sign a contract for the dredging this year.

The provincial government has been asked to contribute $15.2 million to the project. The federal government's share would be $19 million.