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Roland Butler, Liberal MHA for the District of Port de Grave, says layoffs
and depot closures by the Department of Transportation and Works will have a
negative impact on already crumbling highway infrastructure in Conception
Bay North. "Government has announced that it is closing 13 maintenance
depots around the province and we have discovered that at least 125
permanent jobs will be lost," said Butler. "This means that people in
existing depots will be forced to do more work with less staff despite the
crumbling highways we are forced to drive on everyday.
"With the current condition of roads and highways in Port de Grave
District, I find it completely unacceptable that government will be making
current workers at the Lower Island Cove depot take over responsibility for
the work now done in Heart’s Content without additional staff. Government
should be moving in the opposite direction by purchasing more equipment,
hiring more workers and fixing our roads that are in very poor condition.
"I have spoken to many of the employees in these depots who have been
working for government as permanent employees for over 20 years. These
individuals have been serving the communities in the region, recognize the
need and have told me that current staffing levels cannot keep up with the
maintenance problems. They cannot understand why government is handing out
pink slips to the skeleton crew that has responsibility for our public
safety.
"I am calling on Transportation Minister Tom Rideout to reverse this
decision and make an investment in our highway system before our roads
become unsafe and there is nothing left to fix."
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