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PA MLAs called out on bridge issue

Nov 29, 2012 | 6:18 PM

The NDP turned up the heat on the government Thursday about the need for a second bridge in Prince Albert.

Regina Elphinstone-Centre MLA Warren McCall motioned for the government to build a second bridge for Prince Albert which forced a 75 minute legislative debate.

It’s neither the first nor the last on the issue, however the NDP took a more aggressive approach  questioning the leadership of the city’s local MLAs by repeatedly pressing them on their stance for new bridge in the city.

Cumberland NDP MLA Doyle Vermette said the Prince Albert members have been silent and thus failing to stand up for residents who have been asking for a new bridge.

“We see very little action from the two MLAs that represent Prince Albert and the MLAs in the area,” said Vermette. “What are they saying, nothing, very little, nothing.”

“They have to get up and start fighting for Prince Albert for the residents who voted for them,”Vermette said.

Carlton Sask. Party MLA Darryl Hickie said the government has shown leadership by footing the bill for the ongoing repairs to the Diefenbaker bridge under the Urban Highways Connector Program which has paid out $4.2 million to date.

“That means that the tax payers are no longer responsible to have to raise mill rates to cover off 50 per cent cost share. That’s saving people of Prince Albert millions of dollars.”

Hickie said the program could be accessed again by the City of Prince Albert to cover another $7 million in repairs the city says the bridge needs.

Athabasca NDP MLA Buckley Belanger warned of a 'Dooms Day' scenario if the repairs weren't done correctly.

“If that bridge is not safety repaired, you’re putting at risk not just the economy, which you are doing now, not just access to the health care, which you are doing now, but you’re putting the huge problem of public safety at risk,” Belanger said adding an immediate plan needs to be undertaken to begin construction on a new bridge.

Belanger said if the members across the floor won't support a new bridge in Prince Albert the city’s Mayor would be holding them accountable for their lack of action.

“This Mayor is not going to go away. He’s going to be in their face, he’s going to be fighting for the people of Prince Albert,” Belanger said.

“The sad reality is it’s the Mayor is standing alone with the council fighting for the second bridge while the rest of the MLAs from that particular area continue to sit on their hands and say nothing, and do nothing.”

Mayor Dionne didn’t feel the same when asked to comment after the debate. “No,” he answered. ” I’ve been communicating with all the MLAs and they’ve told me anytime I need them I have their private numbers to get a hold of them,”

Dionne added he feels their need for a second bridge has been received.

“They heard it loud and clear during the last provincial election. And I know its front and center to them.”

Dionne feels his provincial counterparts will be more pressured to take a position once the findings of the bridge study are made public sometime in late January.

“I’m not going to poke them in the eye with a stick about the bridge. I’m going to be thorn in their side, but I’m not going to poke them in the eye. Because at the end of the day they are our partners in the province and to move ahead we need to cooperate with our partners.”

bbosker@panow.com

Twitter: @brentbosker