NL-Outsidethebox [confederation]

Randy Collins (NDP MHA Labrador West) is calling on this province’s federal cabinet representative in Ottawa, Loyola Hearn to impress upon his federal colleagues to make funding available to the province that will see an immediate start to putting a hard top surface on the Trans Labrador Highway.

Collins said, “I have written Minister Hearn and federal Minister of Transportation, Lawrence Cannon to remind them of the Conservative election promise and requesting that they provide the funding for the highway.”

During the recent federal election, and previous elections, the Conservatives committed to work with the province to provide money to for surfacing. As a result, the 2006 – 2007 provincial budget saw $15 million set aside for this project to begin, conditional on the federal government matching the province’s contribution.

“Residents in Labrador have waited patiently long enough. The time to act is now,” said Collins. Collins points out that the construction season in Labrador is short and a guarantee is needed now to ensure that an entire year is not lost.

“It is very important that Mr. Hearn make this a priority and use whatever influence he can to see to it that Labrador’s transportation needs are met, by getting the federal government to keep its promise and enter into an arrangement with the province that will see work begin this year,” said Collins.

Nice to see someone trying to make Harpers govt accountable.