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Trans Labrador Highway agreement still traveling an uncertain course
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Yvonne Jones, MHA for the District of Cartwright-L=Anse au Clair and Labrador Affairs Opposition Critic, says that the proposed Trans Labrador Highway agreement still remains locked in uncertainty and there is no clear indication from the provincial government when it will be getting a green light. The Liberal MHA once again questioned the Minister of Transportation John Hickey in the House of Assembly today on the status of this federal-provincial agreement. The minister repeated that the province was still working on it. AThis was the same answer the minister provided in the last session of the House of Assembly during the Fall,@ says Jones. AIn fact, back in 2005, the previous minister together with the current minster announced with tremendous fanfare that the province would ante up $50 million for this critical infrastructure project; and yet, here we are two years later and still no progress. Are they sleeping at the wheel or are they getting no headway with their counterparts in Ottawa?@ Jones says she questions whether the poor state of federal-provincial relations, as driven totally off the rails by a confrontational premier, might now be jeopardizing this funding arrangement. AThere is even more dust of uncertainty clouding the future of this agreement and the minister could give no assurance in the House of Assembly today that the melt-down in relationship has not threatened the funding commitments of this agreement. AThe premier indicated that he is willing to go it alone after he failed to get what he wanted on the equalization deal. My question is, is his government now willing to inject the full cost of this project to see it completed? AHowever this project is funded, it is high time that government ensure this important agreement is at last signed, sealed and delivered. The people of Labrador deserve this infrastructure. There is no excuse for this lack of hustle and attention and it just reinforces whether this government is capable of focusing on more than one project at a time and producing any results whatsoever.@ - 30 -
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