This year, more than any other year, the condition of our roads and highways has become a very serious issue. Our roads and highways are deteriorating more than ever due to a lack of attention to their condition. The City of Winnipeg recognized this when Mayor Sam Katz introduced his 2006 Budget last week. Recognizing that the condition of Winnipeg roads need to be improved, the Mayor announced that the City will spend $61 Million this year on major repairs to streets and bridges in an effort to catch up with years of neglect. By adding in new money for routine maintenance programs to fill in potholes, that total is expected to reach $73 Million.

IF ONLY THE NDP WOULD FOLLOW WINNIPEG’S LEAD!

Over the last several weeks we have heard reports about the terrible condition of many roads across the Province, including the South Perimeter Highway, PTH #75 South to the U.S. Border, and the Trans Canada Highway, but to name only a few!

One constituent remarked that on her way to North Dakota travelling South of Morris on PTH #75, large trucks were travelling on the shoulders because they were smoother than the highway. There was a marked improvement in the condition of the road as soon as she crossed the border into the United States. Why? Because the Americans make their roads a priority!

Six months after new pavement was installed on the South Perimeter Highway, Manitobans were reporting that they had to reduce their speed to 60 km/hour, just to stay on the road. Why? Because instead of fixing the road properly, we fix it on the cheap with only a thin layer of asphalt – it looks good, but it doesn’t do the job.

This week the NDP posted signs to slow down on yet another highway – the Trans Canada. A trucker was quoted as saying that riding on the Trans Canada East of Winnipeg felt the same as driving over railway tracks every few meters. Items in his cab jostled and fell to the floor. Why? Because this Government will not spend the money to fix our crumbling infrastructure!
The NDP will point fingers at Ottawa and blame the Federal Government for not giving the gas tax collected in Manitoba back to Manitoba for roads. The fact is that the Province receives almost $3 Billion annually from the Federal Government in transfer payments. Use some of that money for roads! The fact is that the Province isn’t using all of the Provincial gas tax it collects on roads! According to the Manitoba Heavy Construction industry, the Province collected $15 Million more in gas taxes than it spent on Road construction and maintenance.

In the final analysis the Province is fully responsible for its roads. I call on the NDP Government to take responsibility for them and take action to address this problem – and start with some of the roads in Lac du Bonnet Constituency – like PR #304, PTH #15, PTH #44, PTH #11, PTH #12, PR #520, PR #307, #309, #313, #302 and #317, just to name a few!