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Petition
Presented May 19, 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
be able to stand with another petition for the residents
of Long Island with regard to the causeway petition that
has been put forward, Mr. Speaker.
I know that from time to
time we get many petitions sent forward to us and, just
for explanation for the minister, in case he does not
understand it, usually when you receive petitions and
you are critic for a different department you bring them
forward on behalf of the people who live in that
particular area. I know those petitions have been sent
to members on the government side as well as others on
this side of the House, so anytime I get an opportunity
to stand and represent the people of this Province, I
will do that, Mr. Speaker.
I know back in 2003, it
was announced that those people would have a causeway
for Long Island, and we know that has changed. Today we
are hoping that the minister – I know he is planning
on meetings with those people, they had to cancel them
on a couple of occasions due to the weather conditions -
but when they do meet, Mr. Speaker, that they can come
to a successful conclusion. Not just the people of Long
Island but all the communities in the surrounding area
are also signing those petitions because they know those
people have a very legitimate concern.
They are asking that they
would be reconsidered for this particular causeway
because there are many issues that come forward from
time to time that are not in the best interests of the
people who live there.
As they said, they had a
ferry service for some twenty-six years and in their
petition they are asking that a new ferry be supplied to
them. What they are really saying in the petition is
that they would prefer a causeway because they believe
that this link is the most feasible in the long term for
government. They bring forward various issues, whether
it is with regard to health care or students or
transportation of goods. In each and every petition that
we receive, Mr. Speaker, there are many people who sign
those petitions on their behalf. I believe, as critic
for the department, those people deserve nothing less.
They are just asking that
government reconsider the issue. Where there was an
announcement made for this causeway and now it has been
cancelled, they are asking that government reconsider
their issue, that a fixed link be built between Long
Island and Pilley’s Island in Green Bay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. |
