|
|||||
| Return to 2005 News Releases | |||||
|
|
News
Release |
||||
|
Opposition questions why another contract
sent outside province
|
|||||
|
Eddie Joyce, MHA for the District of Bay of Islands and Liberal
Opposition Critic for Transportation and Works, says news that
yet another contract was awarded to a firm outside the province
reaffirms government ‘s ongoing failure to ensure work and jobs
remains in Newfoundland and Labrador. Today on an Open Line show, the Minister of Transportation and Works, John Hickey, confirmed that government hired a New Brunswick Company, OPAS Geo Plan Consultant for $50,000, to put together a business plan for the cost-shared infrastructure development of the Trans Labrador Highway (TLH). The minister was responding to claims from Federal Regional Minister Loyola Hearn that the province had not put forth a business plan to access available federal funding after the province announced earlier this week that they would go it alone to fund the TLH. "Once again, it is amazing that government assumed that there was no expertise in this province to develop such a proposal and instead looked outside our jurisdiction, "says Joyce. "I am certain there are many firms in this province which could have benefited from such a contract to maintain their employment and economic viability." Earlier this year, the Opposition challenged government on its decision to award several other contracts to firms outside the province, including the $57 million contract to build a long-term care facility in Corner Brook, as well as hiring a Quebec call centre to take bookings for our provincial parks. Joyce points out that the funding controversy over the TLH also highlights once again the very tense relationship which exists between the federal and provincial governments. He questions how the lack of cooperation and the ongoing public spat may be affecting the resolution of other important federal-provincial issues. "We know very well that the issues of the Accord, Equalization and even the Atlantic Gateway proposal have all hit brick walls due to the federal-provincial dispute. How many other initiatives and cost-shared proposals are also suffering from the lack of progress because of the deterioration of this vital relationship. "Ultimately, it is our province and our people that lose from this undiplomatic bickering. In this particular case, it will be the people of Labrador who will receive less funding than they were expecting and deserve. I call upon the two levels of government to show some leadership and work out the differences so that progress is made on securing the full funding amount available from the federal government." - 30 - Media Contact: Kim Ploughman Caucus Communications Office of the Official Opposition tel: (709) 729-6427 e-copies at www.liberal.nf.net
|
|||||
|
Media Contact: |
|||||
