63 twinning means election looming
Editorial appeared in Fort McMurray Today Sept. 1, 2006
Welcome to the 2007 election season.
It kicked off in fine form this week, with both federal and provincial representatives flying to the Oilsands City to announce a big bunch of money for Highway 63.
It's our money, of course -- politicians routinely gloss over this little fact -- but they're plenty proud to give it back to us, and maybe even attach a brass plaque with their names.
While no elections have been called yet, it's almost a given that the new Alberta premier -- the person who will replace Ralph Klein later this year -- will go to the voters to get a mandate some time in 2007. Probably the spring.
As for the feds, some feel it's unlikely Stephen Harper will still be getting along famously with the Liberals, Bloc Quebecois and NDP for 16 more months. Something's gotta give, and that would result in another election.
Brian Jean's hobbyhorse since the MP was first elected in 2004 has been Highway 63. The Fort McMurray man knows, as all do who live in the Oilsands City, that the link to the south is dangerous in its present condition.
MLA Guy Boutilier has laboured long and hard for widening and twinning of the link. A series of deaths fortified his argument.
But he was one voice in the big Progressive Conservative caucus. His colleagues elsewhere in the province almost always won out.
Former transportation minister Lyle Oberg, a physician, travelled the 450-kilometre link by car. During his trip, he came to the aid of a motorist injured in a crash.
Not long after that, money for twinning suddenly appeared.
Not long after that, Oberg was out. Although motorists are told work is ongoing on the highway, they're still waiting for it to show up in the form of pavement.
Jean's campaign literature will point to the fact he came through on his promise to get federal money for Highway 63.
It's a correct statement.
What he won't say -- and can't say -- is how the cash will hasten its completion.
No one at the news conference this week would comment on:
* When it will be finished (three, five and 10 years have been mentioned in the past)
* Whether the Alberta government really needs the money to twin 63.
Our province is awash in cash -- billions of surplus dollars. The project was not being held up waiting for the money; it was held up in other ways.
The project wasn't a priority for many years. They were wasted years for the residents of this region.
People in this region knew about the growth. They knew traffic on 63 was getting unbearable. And dangerous.
While no one will sneeze at more than $100 million coming to this region from the feds, what does it mean??
Politicians who fly in and fly out for cheque presentations should be ashamed. They're spending our money to give us our money.
It's money that should have been spent years ago. By the time all the dust is settled, it's quite possible many construction projects in this region will be finished, and the thousands of workers who clogged the highway Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons will be gone.
What matters is the end result. To date, it's a big fat zero.
Yes, get ready to mark your ballots. Not only will we be voting at the federal and provincial levels, municipal polls will be open all day Oct. 15, 2007.
Wood Buffalo politicians have long fought for four lanes on the highway -- a provincial responsibility -- to no avail. It's possible they were finally able to prod the bureaucracy in Edmonton with strong words about impeding oilsands projects if the infrastructure deficit wasn't addressed.
Did Wood Buffalo representatives wait too long to apply the strong-arm tactics? Voters will judge them too.
Instead of a great day for this region, the funding announcement this week exposed the cracks in the system that continuously frustrate average citizens.
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
Welcome to the 2007 election season.
It kicked off in fine form this week, with both federal and provincial representatives flying to the Oilsands City to announce a big bunch of money for Highway 63.
It's our money, of course -- politicians routinely gloss over this little fact -- but they're plenty proud to give it back to us, and maybe even attach a brass plaque with their names.
While no elections have been called yet, it's almost a given that the new Alberta premier -- the person who will replace Ralph Klein later this year -- will go to the voters to get a mandate some time in 2007. Probably the spring.
As for the feds, some feel it's unlikely Stephen Harper will still be getting along famously with the Liberals, Bloc Quebecois and NDP for 16 more months. Something's gotta give, and that would result in another election.
Brian Jean's hobbyhorse since the MP was first elected in 2004 has been Highway 63. The Fort McMurray man knows, as all do who live in the Oilsands City, that the link to the south is dangerous in its present condition.
MLA Guy Boutilier has laboured long and hard for widening and twinning of the link. A series of deaths fortified his argument.
But he was one voice in the big Progressive Conservative caucus. His colleagues elsewhere in the province almost always won out.
Former transportation minister Lyle Oberg, a physician, travelled the 450-kilometre link by car. During his trip, he came to the aid of a motorist injured in a crash.
Not long after that, money for twinning suddenly appeared.
Not long after that, Oberg was out. Although motorists are told work is ongoing on the highway, they're still waiting for it to show up in the form of pavement.
Jean's campaign literature will point to the fact he came through on his promise to get federal money for Highway 63.
It's a correct statement.
What he won't say -- and can't say -- is how the cash will hasten its completion.
No one at the news conference this week would comment on:
* When it will be finished (three, five and 10 years have been mentioned in the past)
* Whether the Alberta government really needs the money to twin 63.
Our province is awash in cash -- billions of surplus dollars. The project was not being held up waiting for the money; it was held up in other ways.
The project wasn't a priority for many years. They were wasted years for the residents of this region.
People in this region knew about the growth. They knew traffic on 63 was getting unbearable. And dangerous.
While no one will sneeze at more than $100 million coming to this region from the feds, what does it mean??
Politicians who fly in and fly out for cheque presentations should be ashamed. They're spending our money to give us our money.
It's money that should have been spent years ago. By the time all the dust is settled, it's quite possible many construction projects in this region will be finished, and the thousands of workers who clogged the highway Thursday nights and Sunday afternoons will be gone.
What matters is the end result. To date, it's a big fat zero.
Yes, get ready to mark your ballots. Not only will we be voting at the federal and provincial levels, municipal polls will be open all day Oct. 15, 2007.
Wood Buffalo politicians have long fought for four lanes on the highway -- a provincial responsibility -- to no avail. It's possible they were finally able to prod the bureaucracy in Edmonton with strong words about impeding oilsands projects if the infrastructure deficit wasn't addressed.
Did Wood Buffalo representatives wait too long to apply the strong-arm tactics? Voters will judge them too.
Instead of a great day for this region, the funding announcement this week exposed the cracks in the system that continuously frustrate average citizens.
© Copyright 2006, Fort McMurray Today.
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