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Percy Barrett, Opposition Environment and Conservation Critic and MHA for
the District of Bellevue, has renewed his call on the provincial government
to consider expanding the availability of public transportation in the
province as part of a comprehensive response to high fuel prices. "Due to
rapidly increasing energy prices, the Williams government should start
exploring the possibility of expanding public transportation systems in the
province," said Barrett. "Their only reaction to this problem so far has
been to bring forward a woefully inadequate fuel rebate program that leaves
a majority of people in this province out in the cold. Their lack of vision
as a government is evident in the unimaginative way they are dealing with
the impacts of high fuel prices on people in this province."
Earlier this month, the Liberal MHA asked government to consider
incentives to improve public transportation as one option to help
individuals and the provincial economy cope with increased fuel prices. He
pointed out that there are some areas of this province where increased
public transportation might be a real option. "On the northeast Avalon,
improved public transportation would provide cost effective and
environmentally friendly options for some commuters. Enhanced public transit
may also help ease traffic congestion and benefit the overall economy. The
option is certainly worth exploring and the recent spike in fuel prices
emphasizes the need for government to become involved."
Barrett says he is disappointed that neither the Minister of Environment
and Conservation nor the Minister of Transportation and Works have taken any
initiative in pursuing this possibility. "The government could do an initial
cost-benefit analysis and then explore these options with town councils and
potential user groups. As I have said in the past, these Ministers and this
government in general have not shown themselves to be innovative or
proactive in any way in addressing problems facing Newfoundlanders and
Labradorians."
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