Sunday 27 March 2011

#NWT's Bevington on the Cons "funding" the building of a highway from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk.

NWT's Bevington on the Cons "funding" the building of a highway from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk.

From his FaceBook page

Statement by Dennis Bevington in the House of Commons March 23, 2011


March 23, 2011

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the government announced they were going to partially fund the building of a highway from Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk. A project I've personally supported for a number of years and one that is in Environmental assessment at the request of Northerners. Great project, where's the money?

Unfortunately Mr. Speaker there is no money assigned to do this….nowhere in the government's detailed spending estimates is there a budget line for this highway. What do we find in the main estimates……

a cut of 70 per cent to funds for the safe use, development, conservation and protection of the North's natural resources.

A 58 per cent cut to funding to promote the political, social and scientific development of the three territories.

Mr. Speaker Northerners remember how they promised Iqaluit a port but never delivered. We remember the armed ice-breakers now shelved and we remember a food-mail program which caused prices to climb.

Hollow promises all around. Northerners won't be waiting for this new hollow promise to come true. 

If the Conservatives really want to help Northerners build this road then it should be in the detailed spending estimates.


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