Re: Article “Terrain, talks delay Hwy 69,” in the March 10 edition.
In Sudbury, from 1990 to 1995, we had three representatives in the New Democrat government in Ontario: Shelley Martel in the Sudbury East riding, Floyd Laughren in Nickel Belt and myself in Sudbury.
We three, together, often made announcements that affected all of our ridings and each of us spoke to specific areas. My areas were transportation and health. Therefore, it is with some knowledge and background that I speak.
One of the first things instituted by the New Democrats when we attained power was the restart of the four-laning construction of Highway 69, which had stopped at Honey Harbour during the prior Liberal regime. Some drivers may remember the crane that sat there on a pile of sand for almost a full three years.
At the same time, to speed construction planning, three areas were initiated simultaneously; environmental assessments, sometimes taking as long as three to five years; negotiations with the seven First Nation communities along the entire corridor; and the filling-in of the muskeg sections. Of course, it also meant budgeting the dollars for the cost of that construction.
As the lead spokesperson for transportation, I announced the construction timetable to finish the four-laning from Honey Harbour to Sudbury. We told the constituents of our area it would be complete by 2017 and, if all the assessments, negotiations and money were in place, it might be possible to finish by 2013. That was the rose-coloured view, but 2017 was a confirmed time frame.
I was called to appear before the then Sudbury Regional Development Board of Directors to explain why it was taking until 2017 and to rationally tell them why we could not start construction from Sudbury south, rather than Honey Harbour north.
As an aside, it would be very interesting to me to know whether Minister Rick Bartolucci was taken to task by GSDC to explain his constant reiteration of the 2017 date, and now, our newest member.
Then Harris and the Tories came into power and put the kibosh on all those plans. Minimal construction occurred; all environmental assessments and negotiations were halted. It was decided that as each section of highway would be done, these would be done only then. Of course, this meant at least two-year delays on every kilometre. There were very few ripples in our local waters over this announcement, which begs questioning.
After two terms of tightwad governing, the Liberals were brought back to power. Once again, we waited for four-laning to be a priority. Having our local MPP continually announcing the schedule was irritating, but after 12 years in government, Sudburians could finally envision completion.
Now it is 2015. The Liberals are still in power. In fact, we have a majority government who can basically decide whatever they wish.
The electorate of Sudbury saw fit to elect another “Liberal” whose first major announcement is that the four-laning of Highway 69 will now not be completed until 2021.
Having the transportation minister actually say the words makes the member for Sudbury no less culpable, in fact — a weak sister. Glenn Thibeault should be ashamed that his first act as our legislative representative is to renege on Liberal promises made for the past 15 years.
I guess the lesson it teaches all of us is not to believe anything the self-serving Liberals tell us.
Sharon Murdock
Sudbury