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Removing crane downed in Halifax during Dorian cost $2 million: minister

Click to play video: 'N.S. government lifts localized state of emergency following removal of collapsed crane'
N.S. government lifts localized state of emergency following removal of collapsed crane
Nova Scotia announced Monday that the removal of a toppled crane and debris at the Olympus building on South Park Street in Halifax is now complete. Jeremy Keefe joins us at the scene to talk about what happens next. – Nov 4, 2019

Nova Scotia’s transportation minister says the cost of removing a construction crane that toppled in downtown Halifax during post-tropical storm Dorian is at least $2-million.

Lloyd Hines says the province is examining invoices from an engineering firm and the crane company in an attempt to confirm the final number, and once it does it will look to recover the money after it determines who is responsible for the bill.

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Provincial taxpayers are currently on the hook because the province declared a localized state of emergency in the area around the crane in order to speed up its removal.

That step shifted the liability for the crane’s removal to the province.

READ MORE: Nova Scotia Health Authority’s interim CEO says new restructuring removes ‘undue process’

The crane collapsed on Sept. 7 amid powerful gusts from Dorian as it roared into the city.

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Hines stopped short of saying the province will sue to recover the money but said legal action is possible.

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