By Charlene Tebbutt

NDP petitions for second bridge in P.A.

Mar 14, 2018 | 5:35 PM

The Saskatchewan New Democratic Party is once again calling for a second bridge to be built in Prince Albert.

The spring session of the Legislature got underway this week in Regina. Prince Albert Northcote MLA and newly-minted NDP Deputy Caucus Leader Nicole Rancourt raised the issue of a second bridge, saying the government refuses to stand up for people in the Prince Albert region.

Speaking from Regina on Wednesday, Rancourt told paNOW she will continue to press the government for a commitment to help fund a second bridge in Prince Albert.

“It benefits not only the Prince Albert residents but all the residents around Prince Albert and the northern communities when we talk about a second bridge, and that’s why it’s so important that the provincial and the federal governments fund this bridge,” she told paNOW. “Last session, I brought it forward every day of session just to make a point about how important this is for Prince Albert (and) I will keep advocating for a second bridge.”

Reading the petition in the Legislature on Tuesday, Rancourt said local municipal governments have limited resources and a new bridge should be funded by the government. Rancourt said the government needs to stand up for local residents and businesses.

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“This is definitely on my list as something that’s very important for Prince Albert,” she added.

Prince Albert Carlton MLA Joe Hargrave said the province is still committed to shared funding for the bridge under a P3 model. The province continues to fund maintenance and repairs on the Diefenbaker Bridge, Hargrave said, but the government is facing a deficit and revenues are down.

 “Our resources are limited as well,” Hargrave told paNOW.

“We spent $6.8 million on the Diefenbaker Bridge and there’s been lots of maintenance done, and maintenance required, there’s a very intricate monitoring system set up on the bridge now (and) engineering studies and tests that they’ve done on it show that the bridge is good for many, many years – with proper maintenance – for many years to come.”

The province is committed to funding a new hospital in the region as provincial finances improve, Hargrave noted. The Prince Albert & District Chamber of Commerce has also been vocal on the issue of a second bridge, saying it is a priority for the local business community.

charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt