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News
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Sweeney once again asks minister to resolve water dispute between Victoria and Salmon Cove August 28, 2006 |
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George Sweeney, MHA for the District of Carbonear - Harbour Grace, is once
again calling on the Minister of Municipal Affairs to get involved and help
settle a long-standing dispute between the towns of Victoria and Salmon
Cove. The dispute between the two adjacent towns involves the fees to be paid by the Town of Salmon Cove for the water it receives from the Town of Victoria. These communities have been trying to co-operate in offering services to their residents over the years and have been attempting to integrate water and sewer systems. However, this co-operation recently came to a standstill. The town of Victoria has now cut off the water supply to the Town of Salmon Cove. "I am very disappointed that the province has allowed this dispute to escalate to this point," said Mr. Sweeney. "In June, I issued a press release asking Minister Byrne to become involved in finding solutions to this impasse. Unfortunately, the problem was not rectified and now the people of Salmon Cove are left without water service. There are immediate health and safety issues that must be addressed and government must provide urgent attention to ensure the people of Salmon Cove have access to a clean water supply." Sweeney says that this situation is indicative of what is happening in communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. One community cannot afford to pay for their water service, while another community cannot afford to provide the service to adjacent communities. Sweeney attributes this to a declining tax base and government cutbacks to Municipal Operating Grants which have been continuously reduced in recent years. "While a longer-term solution must be put in place, I am asking the minister to take a leadership role and get both communities back to the table. Government should ask the Town of Victoria to re-establish the water connection to Salmon Cove until a mediated solution can be found. If the minister continues to sit back and do nothing, I fear that this dispute will continue to drag on until a tragedy forces a resolution. This is not in the best interests of anyone involved and must be addressed immediately."
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