$90 million controversy for New Brunswick roads

Avatar photo

OTTAWA, Ont. — Federal Labour Minister, Claudette Bradshaw, is fighting back over a $90-million controversy that is sparking fears New Brunswick’s north won’t see any new money for its crumbling highways.

Bradshaw, the Moncton-area Liberal MP who serves as the province’s voice in the federal cabinet, has sent a letter to a coalition of northern mayors insisting she never told reporters there was $90 million in new federal funding for work on Routes 11 and 17.

Bradshaw instead was only referring to the $90 million that was available under the 1998 Canada-New Brunswick Highway Improvement Program, which committed both governments to jointly funding $300 million worth of work over seven years.

She corrected herself with updated figures showing there is $77 million left unspent in the fund. That money, however, has already been allocated for other projects by the province.

David Klug, Bradshaw’s spokesman, says that if the northern highways are a priority with the provincial government, then Fredericton can explain why it has committed the money elsewhere.

“People should be asking the province where they put the money,” says Klug.

Avatar photo

Truck News is Canada's leading trucking newspaper - news and information for trucking companies, owner/operators, truck drivers and logistics professionals working in the Canadian trucking industry.


Have your say


This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.

*