Ottawa reneged on promise for highway funding, PEI transport minister says

CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. (March 8, 2000) — Prince Edward Island’s top transportation official said he was led to believe that significant money would be earmarked for a National Highways Program, but that wasn’t included in the 2000 federal budget released Feb. 28.

“The Provincial and Territorial Ministers spent the past 18 months negotiating in good faith with Hon. David Collenete, Minister of Transportation, and we were led to believe that significant money was being targeted for a National Highways Program,” said Minister of Transportation and Public Works Mike Currie.

“We were agreeable in 1999 when we were told that health care and education were taking priority and highways money would be included in the 2000 budget. It’s obvious the federal government didn’t follow through on it’s commitment.”

Currie said he was hopeful that a National Highways Program would also deal with the removal of toll highways, particularly those in Nova Scotia.

“We will do what we can, but without any federal funding, it won’t be nearly enough. It’s frustrating because the federal government collects over $6 billion in fuel taxes each year and returns less than 8% of that back into road construction,” the Minister said.

“There are roads out there that need to be addressed, but we won’t be able to get to them without a federal program to assist us. People who live on clay roads hoping for pavement are going to be out of luck until a significant federal program becomes a reality and that doesn’t appear to be on the horizon.”