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Wally Andersen, Opposition Transportation and Works Critic and MHA for the
District of Torngat Mountains, is demanding that government reverse its
decision to cut road maintenance personnel and close 14 depots. "After
talks with union leaders and workers, it has been confirmed that 125 people
have received layoff notices," said Andersen. "This number is higher than
what government has admitted and will have a negative impact on highway
safety and the amount of maintenance that will be done this summer. This is
yet another attack on the rural areas of this province by government."
Andersen points out that government itself has stated that the roads of
this province are already in a horrible state of disrepair and that new
investment is needed rather than shifting around existing funds. "If
government sees a need for more money for materials, they should come up
with more money, not cut positions to make up for the shortfall. Rather than
robbing Peter to pay Paul, government should inject new funds.
"Ask any driver after they battle their way down the highway avoiding
potholes, bumps, and cracks, how they feel about reducing highway
maintenance personnel. The very notion that our roads can be improved with
less people working on them is ludicrous."
The Liberal MHA says this is another example of this government turning
its back on the people of the province. "Some of the people who received
layoff notices had been working for the government for over 20 years and now
find themselves out of work. When a similar depot realignment took place
under the previous Liberal government, not a single job was lost. I’m
calling on the Minister to come clean with the people of Newfoundland and
Labrador about the real number of jobs being lost and the real impact these
cuts will have on the rural areas of the province." |