A northern Saskatchewan mayor is disappointed with what he feels is a lack of infrastructure plans by the provincial government for the north.
Ile a la Crosse mayor Duane Favel and other northern mayors and councillors met at a New North gathering in Prince Albert Thursday. Mayor Favel says the northern leaders were disappointed that ministry leaders who were scheduled to be at the meeting couldn’t make it.
“We were looking forward to having a candid conversation with them because highways is one issue we need to move forward on,” said Favel. “Based on what we heard, there are no plans in the next couple years for any resurfacing of roads in northern Saskatchewan.”
In light of Cabinet Ministers, Ministry officials were on hand to answer questions.
Mayor Favel says there needs to be some sort of financial injection into the highways in the north.
“I think the biggest concern is that we have been raising these issues for the past 6 or 7 years and we haven’t seen any real investment,” commented Favel after the New North gathering was finished. “If they don’t start addressing some of these issues we have raised the cost to address them begins to double, so there is a sense of urgency here.”
During the gathering, there was also discussion on how the promised Wollaston Lake Road has never been finished.
Terri Daniels, from the Wollaston Lake area, says the government promised to complete the road in 2012.
During Thursday’s gathering, a representative for the Ministry of Highways confirmed there was no plans as of now to complete the road.