Province Asked to Put New Money into Far North

Province Asked to Put New Money into Far North

Thursday, September 23, 2004 at 13:11

An economic development official for the Athabasca region has an idea where the province could spend part of its one-time equalization payment from Ottawa.

The provincial government revealed yesterday that the move from the federal government will net the province an extra 340 million dollars.

Glen Strong feels this is a perfect opportunity for the province to provide its fair share of the funding for a proposed all-weather road network in the Far North.

Strong notes the premier has stated that the one-time payment should go to things like infrastructure — not to ongoing programs.

Strong says the Athabasca region is in desperate need of a permanent link to the rest of the province, and he wants the Calvert government to commit 20 million dollars to the 40-million-dollar project.

Strong says Ottawa appears willing to split the cost of the project evenly with the province.

However, provincial officials have stated in the past that they’re only willing to commit a third of the cost in any cost-share agreement.