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Eddie Joyce, MHA for the District of Bay of Islands, says he is pleased that
on Friday, December 10th, the Minister of Transportation and Works changed a
province-wide snowclearing policy that had been implemented earlier this
winter. Departmental staff are now permitted to receive overtime in an
effort to keep highways cleared and to ensure a sufficient level of salt and
sand is applied to highways and roads in the province. Joyce first raised
the issue in the House of Assembly on Thursday afternoon. "In the House of
Assembly this afternoon, the minister stated that as of last Friday this
matter was resolved and staff can make the extra runs needed to clear snow
and salt and sand roads, even if overtime work was needed," said Mr. Joyce.
"I am very pleased that after raising this issue in the House and showing
government the potential dangers associated with this new policy, the
minister has given the directive to his snowclearing employees to work the
hours necessary to ensure that our roads are safe.
"This important issue was brought to my attention by many residents of
the Bay of Islands who were concerned about their safety. It is disturbing
that the Department of Transportation and Works would implement such a
policy that created such a dangerous situation in the Bay of Islands without
any consultation with the communities affected.
"I thank the many town councils and residents who helped bring this
policy to the forefront to ensure the appropriate pressure was placed on the
minister to change his mind and avoid the creation of dangerous situations
on our highways and roads." |