The City of Corner Brook has been complaining that they have not received their fair share of municipal capital works funding. In media reports today, Justice Minister Tom Marshall is blaming the City of Corner Brook for not contacting him earlier to lobby for these funds. Marshall also stated that it is now too late for any new funding to be given to the city.

"This is another example of the many commitments made to the City of Corner Brook by the premier and minister that have been broken," said Mr. Joyce. "They have already deferred the expansion of Herdman Collegiate, cancelled the West Coast Exhibition Centre, closed the Department of Finance Office resulting in numerous layoffs, dragged their feet on the long-term care facility and cut the city’s Municipal Operating Grant by $200,000. What will be the next attack on the people of Corner Brook?

"As an MHA, Minister Marshall is expected to deal with the city to get capital works funding. His role is to contact the city to find out their needs and lobby government on their behalf. He has done nothing to facilitate this process. If Minister Marshall was truly committed to his constituents, he would have been active with this file months ago.

"The Premier has stated that he has met with city officials several times when he was in Corner Brook. Now, Minister Marshall says he knew nothing about the city’s request for funding. What is factual? Did the premier actually meet with city officials? Is Minister Marshall just covering up his lack of interest related to this initiative? Either way, the people of Corner Brook are the ones who lose because of this decision.

"The roads and water and sewer infrastructure in Corner Brook are in deplorable condition. With government’s refusal to provide money for these necessary upgrades, Corner Brook is missing out on an opportunity for needed improvements and will lose employment opportunities related to this work.