The opposition Wildrose Party is once again calling on the provincial government to set a timeline for the twinning of Highway 63.
MLAs Shane Saskiw (Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills) and Drew Barnes (Cypress-Medicine Hat) released a 10-page report entitled “Getting it Done” after their recent tour of 63 and 881, which included meetings with government and community stakeholders.
They say a timeline is the number one priority.
Saskiw says there’s no reason not to set one.
“I think most people on the ground say, look, we know that it’s going to take a while to twin this road, but actually set a timetable,” Saskiw suggested, “but actually set up a timetable, and if there’s unforeseen circumstances that occur that have to extend the timeline for twinning it, I think Albertans would respect that.”
He says it’s not just he and Barnes who are focused on the issue.
“Every single Wildrose MLA signed a letter to the transportation minister indicating that this is our number one priority for road infrastructure in the entire province,” he said. “Because we recognize that this is not only a Fort McMurray issue – it’s a northern issue, it’s an Alberta issue – it’s an international issue.”
Saskiw says a piecemeal approach to twinning isn’t working, and there’s no reason the government can’t set up a plan right now.
“We have to have those monies allocated now, because if you don’t, you have things like the government spending two billion dollars on corporate subsidies to pump CO2 into the ground, or 400 million for new MLA offices,” he said. “We in the Wildrose feel that those are not priorities – the priority should be twinning Highway 63.”
To read the full report, click here.
To read the letter from the Wildrose caucus, click here.
The government is scheduled to make a major announcement about the twinning project tomorrow morning.
October 18, 2012
