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News
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Funding to re-open highways depots should have been in
budget March 30, 2006
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Eddie Joyce, Opposition Transportation and Works Critic and MHA for the
District of Bay of Islands, says he is disappointed that funding to re-open
the 13 closed transportation depots was not included in today’s budget. Last year, government announced that it was closing 13 highways depots across the province during the summer months in an effort to save money. Since this announcement, preventative maintenance programs have suffered and laid off employees have indicated that winter maintenance equipment has not been ready early in the winter season to carry out their snowclearing and ice control duties. "I was very surprised to discover that government will not be opening the 13 highways depots this year," said Mr. Joyce. "After seeing the negative impact this decision had on equipment and summer preventative maintenance last year, I was fully expecting government to rectify this error. Unfortunately, we will have to go through another season of problems before government realizes their mistake. "By neglecting the summer maintenance program, I fear government will end up spending more in the long-term. These activities maintain road infrastructure and ensure our highways are in better shape throughout the year. Depot employees have advised me that more money will eventually have to be invested to fix these developing problems. Keeping these depots closed will lead to a more costly investment in the future. "Today’s budget was another missed opportunity to fix a mistake created by this government. I encourage the Minister of Transportation and Works reconsider this decision and re-open the 13 highways depots in the province."
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