New Deal Funds Should Be Used for Cameron Street Bridge

Thursday, April 20, 2006 02:59 PM

M.P. For Prince George-Peace River, Jay Hill, addresses Regional District Fraser Fort George

M.P. for Prince George – Peace River, Jay Hill, isn’t making any promises about what might, or might not be in the Federal budget, but he will try to see if the “New Deal” parameters can be made more “flexible”. The “New Deal” is a distribution of gas tax to municipalities for projects with an environmental focus. Hill made the comments during his presentation to the Regional District of Fraser Fort George.

Regional District Chair, Colin Kinsley, says the flexibility is needed for smaller communities,(like Prince George) who desperately need funding for some infrastructure projects. “We may have to sell the replacement of the Cameron Street Bridge as a green project” says Kinsley, “Anyone who sees the logging and chemical trucks traveling through the city can see the replacement of that bridge is a must.”

The City is trying to develop a three party funding project sharing the cost of replacing the bridge with the Province and the Federal government.

Hill says the new government is committed to the New Deal “We intend to follow through on our commitment to the fuel tax sharing program. If there are things that can be done to make it more flexible, certainly I will carry that message.”

There were other messages Directors wanted Hill to carry back to Ottawa:

Director Don Bassermann asked that Hill take to Ottawa a request for increased funding for arts and culture. Bassermann says the boost to cultural and heritage programs are key elements in attracting and retaining people in the rural regions. Hill was less optimistic that request could be honoured “Our priorities are elsewhere” Hill told the Board, “The focus is on health, child care and tax relief”

Director Dee Burden asked that Hill talk with the CRTC about the lack of radio coverage in some rural areas, “We have just finished our emergency plan, and as more stations turn over to FM more rural areas have no signal so we have no way to advise people.”

Hill said he would direct her concern to the CRTC.

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Posted on Thursday, April 20, 2006 02:59 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: duffer on April 20 2006 8:29 PM

Basserman or Kinsley probably don't even go on this website but we do not need any more arts and culture. We can't afford to pay for the white elephants we have now. We keep bailing these people out (art gallery and symphony) for no good reason. People do not move to P.G. for the arts and culture. They move here because of the outdoor activities and reasonably low housing costs, and being able to get to work in 10 minutes or less. I don't know when this city council is going to realize that. We are not Vancouver and do not want to be a bunch of snobs such as they.

Posted by: owl on April 21 2006 2:34 AM

Hill told the Board, “The focus is on health, child care and tax relief”

Good, so we will get a Cancer Centre, an immigration policy which will allow us to get Nannies for our kids, and tax relief to pay for them.

I love this government!! The NDP loves this government!!! The Partie Quebecois loves this government. Even the Liberals have to love this government!

Now, about that BS that the bridge replacement is a green project. Since when is making it easy for polluting industry to stay on River Road a green project? Smoke and mirrors!!! With an emphasis on the smoke.

;-)

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on April 21 2006 9:30 AM

The Cameron Street bridge should be converted to a snowmobile-quad traffic only bridge for commuters. The newer sled are really economical to ride now, and the city does not have to plow snow and dump salt and sand in the river every winter and spring.
Goes with the winter city theme doesn't it? I bet it would really catch on. Sleds and quads will be licenced by new regulations this fall. Might as well use them.

Posted by: owl on April 21 2006 8:43 PM

With good mufflers and good pollution control on the small engines I think that it would be worth looking at.