Kenora MP Bob Nault says he doesn’t care who gets credit, he just wants to see the twinning of Highway 17 from Kenora to the Manitoba boundary get started.
“If the design is ready and people say the consultations are now started, there should be no excuse for us not to be putting shovels in the ground. Even though Mr. Rickford has suggested the shovels in the ground were going to be in the Summer, Summer is quickly going away, we’re heading into the Fall and still no shovels in the ground.”
Kenora-Rainy River MPP and Northern Development and Mines Minister Greg Rickford has suggested he hopes to now see the project start by the end of the calendar year.
Nault says “Stop the squabbling. Stop pointing fingers. Let’s just get on with doing the job that we’re asked to do. The twinning of the highway is a provincial jurisdiction but I’ve been saying all along that the Federal government should be involved.
He adds “I’ve been extremely clear in my message that in order to fund the twinning of Highway 17 from the Federal side, the Province of Ontario must submit the project to the Government of Canada and list it as a top priority.
Nault notes no one on his side has seen any proposal or design for the project and stresses time is quickly running out for a 2019 start-up.
He says if there is no interest in having the Federal government involved, that’s up to the province to make that decision.
However, he stresses he just wants to see shovels in the ground.
Nault adds “I’m not interested in having a ‘Family Feud’ with the Member of Provincial Parliament. What I’m really interested in is to get the Ford government to recognize that the west end of their province has infrastructure needs like they do in Southern Ontario, and we need to get those built.”
He believes the only reason the project hasn’t got started is because it’s not based in Southern Ontario.
The twinning was first announced by the government’s of the day back in 2009.
To hear more from Bob Nault, visit the Audio link below.
