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MHA Sweeney urges government
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George Sweeney, MHA for the District of Carbonear-Harbour Grace, says government is neglecting the recreational and safety needs of his district by allowing the S.W. Moores Memorial Stadium to operate in a state of disrepair. The Town of Harbour Grace submitted a proposal to government for repairs to the stadium in May of last year; and has yet to receive even the courtesy of a reply. The stadium was opened in the late 1950s and has been under the control of the town since 1989. AThis stadium is a very worthwhile asset to the community and the surrounding areas. Residents of all ages use it for both entertainment and recreational purposes,@ says Sweeney. ACertainly, in terms of encouraging young and old alike to enhance their overall health, this stadium has played a tremendous role in the community. Funding for this initiative would therefore fit with the government=s Provincial Wellness Plan which promotes active living as one of its priorities. AWe recently heard of government=s commitment to partner, under the Municipal Capital Works program, with the municipalities of Torbay, Logy Bay‑Middle Cove‑Outer Cove, Pouch Cove and Flatrock to support construction of a new $6.5 million state-of-the-art arena for the region. The province=s share of this project is $4.9 million and the new facility will be built in the minister=s own district. Interesting enough, the province has committed another $2 million under the Newfoundland and Labrador Rural Infrastructure Fund to construct a provincial sports training center in St. John=s. AWhile the people of that area certainly deserve their new arena, the people of our district are merely looking for much-needed assistance just to keep their arena safe and upgraded. This is a recreational structure that is already in place and does not require a substantive investment of government funding to allow it to operate. The Town and Mayor Don Coombs have strongly indicated that they cannot afford to carry out the necessary repairs on their own. AI urge the minister to immediately address this important proposal and put a stamp of approval on at least one Liberal District project. We=re not looking for state-of-the-art minister, just a little heart.@
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