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Thistle calls for post-secondary boost to
help celebrate Education Week
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Anna Thistle, MHA for the District of Grand Falls‑Buchans and Opposition Critic for Finance and Treasury Board, says the battered Buchans Highway deserves a more substantial investment than the $600,000 announced by the Minister of Transportation and Works, John Hickey, last week. "The Buchans Highway has become a major transportation route for the mining operation of Aur Resources,@ says Thistle. AHeavy equipment on the highway has led to a serious deterioration of the road and the safety of all travellers still remains a significant concern for this district. ARoute 370 is in dire need of major upgrades, not a band-aid treatment as this government is now offering. The $600,000 announcement will be decreased to $475,000 by the time the HST and the engineering fees are deducted from the project. According to the government tender description, funding will only remove and repair broken shoulder along Route 370 and allow for approximately 2km of the road to be resurfaced. This is certainly not acceptable by any standards. "This government will receive revenue in excess of $140 million in gasoline taxes, together with significant benefits related to mining and exploration activities in this province. This inadequate funding for the Buchans Highway shows government has failed to realize that the road needs a more strategic investment. It also clearly indicates that they are not at all serious about supporting a vital industry in rural Newfoundland and Labrador. "I once again call on government to make a substantial investment in the Buchans Highway. A major upgrade, not a cosmetic fix, has to occur not only to facilitate the mine=s operation, but just as importantly to ensure the safety of those who travel over this highway. Residents need to be reassured that the highway is in a safe condition when they see a mine=s truck coming at them on that stretch of the road. Bus drivers need a secure shoulder to pull over and pick up children. As it now stands, safety and security for residents will still remain an issue even after this bit of work is carried out.@ - 30 -
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