|
Auditor General's report proves government misleading public regarding roads investment February 1, 2007 Eddie Joyce, Opposition Transportation and Works Critic and MHA for the District of Bay of Islands, says the conclusions in the Auditor General's (AG) report prove that government has been misleading the people of the province regarding their annual roads investment. On pages 340 and 341 of the AG report released yesterday, John Noseworthy concludes that the province's road construction expenditures decreased by 55 per cent from 2002 to 2005, and that government did not spend all of the money announced in previous budgets and was instead re-announcing projects. The AG also concludes that no increased investment has been made in road maintenance since the Tories took office in 2003. "It is obvious that government has been trying to fool the people of the province into thinking they are making significant investments in the province's roads," said Mr. Joyce. "The AG's report certainly proves that this is nothing more than a public relations exercise and this government has made very little increased investment in the province's highways. I am hearing from people all over the province who are seeing a deterioration of road conditions, maintenance and snow clearing. "Instead of trying to blame everyone else for poor road conditions, Minister Hickey should look in the mirror. The figures are clearly laid out in the AG's report and the grade for his government's record on roads investment is dismal. As a matter of fact, on page 346 of the report it shows that in 2001, 2002 and 2003, significantly more money was invested in our province's highways that this government has put forward to date. "I encourage the minister to accept the facts and do something to improve road conditions. He should be thanking the AG for correcting the misleading information he has put forth instead of disagreeing with his conclusions. If he actually took responsibility for his government's inaction, maybe we might see some improvements in our road conditions. If not, I fear the this government's trend of playing public relations games will result in the continued deterioration of our province's highways."
|
|
Media Contact: |