Serby Says All-Weather Roads Still a Priority

Serby Says All-Weather Roads Still a Priority

Thursday, December 02, 2004 at 15:01

Saskatchewan’s deputy premier says establishing an all-weather road network in the Far North is still a high priority for the provincial government.

Clay Serby says even though Athabasca leaders are dismayed that the province didn’t devote any of its recent financial windfall to the project, the roads are still on the government’s radar screen.

The province set aside $12 million for the clean-up of abandoned uranium mines — contingent on the federal government delivering its share of funding.

However, Serby says despite the fact this approach wasn’t used for the all-weather road proposal, there’s still hope for residents of the Athabasca basin — mainly because he feels the province’s new equalization formula with Ottawa will provide extra cash for years to come.

Serby also believes there will be some meaningful developments on that file within the NDP’s current mandate.

The cost of the project is estimated at $42 million.

The province and Ottawa continue to disagree over how to split the cost of construction.