Thistle was referring to controversy which has erupted when it was revealed by former transportation minister Percy Barrett that a cabin road in the finance minister’s district is being upgraded. Barrett accused the finance minister of having a double standard because other cabin roads and even roads that support economic development are not being repaired by the Conservative government.

"How can he be out there telling everyone to tighten their belts and restraint is necessary when he is obviously not following his own advice," says Thistle. "When you hear that this kind of double standard exists you have to wonder what else is happening. It has to damage the credibility of the finance minister who is telling everyone else to cut back. It is like having a fox guard the hen house."

The road in question is in Tors Cove and the announcement of the work was buried in a news release from the Department of Transportation and works on June 17^th and tenders close on August 10^th (The advertisement appears on page D4 of the July 24^th Telegram).

Government announced they were eliminating winter and summer maintenance for a savings of $800,000 in their Spring budget (page 12). In a news release issued by the finance minister on March 30^th under the heading "Spending within our means" it is stated that "in recognition of their primarily recreational purpose, cabin access and class-four roads will no longer receive summer or winter maintenance so that scarce resources can be focused on maintaining the vital provincial highway network."