WINNIPEG, MB — The new improvements to Highway 10 came as good news for the Manitoba Trucking Association, but were soon disappointed to hear the Province of Manitoba announced its plans to cut the snow-clearing budget for this year.

The cuts raised safety concerns and could fall as a negative impact on economic activity this season, since reducing snow clearing services on major trade routes will impact just-in-time freight movements, says the MTA — especially those that rely on overnight service to rural communities within Manitoba.

MTA Executive Director Bob Dolyniuk said the MTA is concerned with the provincial government’s consideration in removing overnight snow-clearing services on important arteries — Highways 1, 16, 59, and 75.

“We are disappointed by this decision; we are also disappointed in how Manitobans found out about this one, which was through the media, rather than from the government itself,” Dolyniuk said.

“This is a safety issue first and foremost as every Manitoban knows that it doesn’t have to be snowing for snow to cause problems, as it can also blow and drift across highways,” he said.