|
George Sweeney, MHA for the District of Carbonear - Harbour Grace, is
calling on the Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs to get involved
and help settle a dispute between the towns of Victoria and Salmon Cove.
The dispute between the two adjacent towns involves the fees to be paid by
the Town of Salmon Cove for the water it receives from the Town of Victoria.
These communities have been trying to co-operate in offering services to
their residents over the years and have been attempting to integrate water
and sewer systems, however, this co-operation recently came to a standstill.
The town of Victoria is now threatening to cut off the water supply to the
Town of Salmon Cove at the end of this month.
"The provincial government should become involved to ensure a solution is
found before the situation deteriorates further and any future co-operation
is compromised. If water is cut off to the Town of Salmon Cove, there are
implications for health and safety which cannot be ignored," says Sweeney.
The Liberal MHA says there are several options open to the minister in
assisting in this matter. "Minister Byrne should ask that no action be taken
to cut off the water until he has had an opportunity to meet with the two
towns and mediate a solution. Another option would be for the minister to
appoint an independent arbitrator to make a decision on this issue. The
minister has a responsibility to become involved in this situation not only
by virtue of his position, but also because the government he represents is
primarily to blame for allowing the situation to deteriorate the way it
has."
Sweeney says the problems which exist between these two communities are
symptoms of a larger issue facing small municipalities in this province.
"This kind of dispute highlights the difficult position which these small
municipalities face as they try to serve their residents. It is evident that
the funding they receive from government is inadequate and their ability to
raise funds locally is severely limited because of the crisis in the economy
of rural areas of this province.
"I am concerned that disputes of this kind will become more common unless
the provincial government starts to deal in a comprehensive manner with the
problems facing small communities. The councillors from these towns are not
to blame. Unfortunately, they find themselves in a difficult situation as
they try to serve the residents of the towns they represent. Many
communities all over this province find themselves in similar circumstances
and have had to cut services. I strongly encourage the minister to show some
leadership on this issue and deal with immediate problem facing these two
towns as well as the root causes of this problem."
|