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Petition
Presented May 12, 2009
Long Island Causeway
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MR. SPEAKER: The
hon. the Member for the District of Port de Grave.
MR. BUTLER: Thank
you, Mr. Speaker.
It is a pleasure today to
stand with another petition from the residents of Triton
and Long Island and all the communities in that
particular area. The people, not only on the island
itself, have signed petitions, but petitions were placed
in various communities and it is a pleasure to stand and
present those petitions.
Someone asked me
recently, why do I present petitions on behalf of the
people in that particular area. Number one, it is
because I am the critic for Transportation and they send
them in. I know my hon. colleague from Signal Hill-Quidi
Vidi, the Leader of the Third Party, has received
petitions and I am sure MHAs from the area receive
petitions. I know my hon. colleague from Signal Hill has
some to present. The reason I present them is because I
am the critic for Transportation. You do it, not because
they are in your constituency, but you do it because
they are people with legitimate concerns. They send in
petitions and therefore you stand and present them.
The issue involved here,
Mr. Speaker – there were two things they were asking
for; a replacement ferry or a fixed link. The bottom
line with their petition is asking that a fixed link
would be constructed between Long Island and Pilley’s
Island.
They have good legitimate
reasons for it. Number one, they say even with a new
ferry that is one issue, but they are saying it is more
feasible for government if they went with a fixed link.
No doubt about it, it is a tremendous task whichever way
they go. They are saying that the replacement of the
ferry service with a fixed link is the ideal situation.
They have some major concerns being isolated, concerns
with regard to hospitals, schooling, transportation of
goods from the fish plant there, and this is the reason
they present those petitions.
Not only that, they were
promised a fixed link, the Long Island Causeway, back on
August 5, 2003; however, that was, I guess, placed back
on the back burner due to financial reasons but we know
now the situation that we find ourselves in, and we know
there are many needs, but I believe once a promise has
been made then consideration should be given when the
time arises and government finds itself in a better
financial position.
So, Mr. Speaker, it is a
pleasure today to stand and present another petition on
behalf of the residents, that government will
immediately undertake measures to construct a fixed
link. I know the minister has agreed to meet with them,
but he told me a few minutes ago I think it had to be
cancelled due to weather conditions.
That is good news, to
know that they are willing to sit down with the
committee and discuss the issue. Who knows? Maybe
something will come from it; but, Mr. Speaker, it is a
pleasure just to be able to stand and present another
petition on behalf of those residents.
Thank you very much. |
