Budget so bright

The budget the province brought down last week was very generous to Labrador West, according to Jim Baker.

The Labrador West MHA said the budget will stimulate the economy with the combination of spending and tax cuts.

When it comes to spending, Labrador West got more in this budget than the MHA has seen before and he is quick to comment on what he sees as the highlights for his district.

Healthful gains

"I am ecstatic over the attainment of the dialysis for Lab. West for the old hospital," said Baker in telephone interview from St. John's. "I always knew we would get it in the new hospital, but to get it now in the old hospital, I am certainly very pleased over that. It's something I have been pushing for over the last year."

The MHA says there has been much lobbying over the last year or so for that and he is sure it will make the residents happy that government gave this priority.

He pointed out with the dialysis unit there will be two jobs created (an LPN and a nursing position). There will also be a respiratory position created in the hospital in Labrador West.

A CT Scanner would have been great too, Baker admits, but he says there will be other opportunities.

"Well there's always next year's [budget]," he said, "And, I am going to continue to work on that for sure. I am quite confident that it will come in the new hospital and the space is provided for that."

Air Ambulance

Although there is controversy over the air ambulance moving from St. Anthony into Goose Bay, Baker said the move will prove to be a benefit to all Labradorians.

"I would have liked to seen it in Lab. West but you have to be realistic, when you have two air ambulances for the province," he said. "I think it has to be situated where it meets the needs of the total population of Labrador. I think that Goose Bay has a little advantage over us geographically and they already have the infrastructure in place."

As for the second air ambulance staying in St. John's, the Labrador West MHA explains why.

"They need one there because they have a specialized neonatal team there for the Janeway," he said of the St. John's location. "And, lots of times they have to come out with the team to respond to an emergency. So if it wasn't in St. John's, they would have to go to St. John's to pick up the team and then go to the patient which is creating a lot of delays."

Baker pointed out with the air ambulance now being stationed in Happy Valley-Goose Bay it will have a medical flight specialist.

"That's an additional $1-million investment," he said. "This ambulance now in Goose Bay with a medical flight specialist is going to speed up response times tremendously.

Before when [the air ambulance] was in St. Anthony, they had to fly down to St. John's, pick up a team and come back, you are looking at a minimum of six hours probably. So, now even though it's in Happy Valley Goose Bay, it's only an hour's flight away from St. Anthony and Labrador West and I guess that is why it was recommended by the consultant."

Transportation

There were also gains in transportation that came as joyful news for Baker. The government will be following through on spending $89 million on the Trans Labrador Highway this year.

"I think it's about $73 million we will spend on widening and asphalt and there is another $15 million for Phase III," said Baker. "Definitely we will see the 80 kms completed that got started last year, unless something drastic happens. That's all prepared now so I am expecting it to be done by mid-August. Then there is another 50 kms contracted out in Goose Bay and that will give them a total of 80 over there. So if that is done before the end of the season, then obviously we will continue on with more of the contract.

We are going to take advantage of every possible hour in this construction season to get the road finished as quickly as possible over the next couple of years."

Weigh scales

In keeping with transportation, government will cough up an additional $3.2 million to install weigh scales in Labrador West. A building, the scales and the creation of six inspector positions is what makes up that package.

This, Baker explains, is an investment to protect the investment of asphalt on the TLH.

"Obviously, when we asphalt the Trans Labrador Highway, we need to protect it," he commented. "We can't have trucks going down it overweight and tearing it up."

The weigh scales, he figures, will be situated just off the TLH towards the incinerator.

College and hospital

With contracts already out on the hospital and college, Baker is expecting a quick dive into construction just as soon as the weather allows.

"We will spend $9 million on the hospital and $11 million on the college," he pointed out. "With the hospital, that will involve putting in foundations and the steelwork. The contract I think for that is $5 million so there will be other work going on as well such as piping and stuff."

The hospital contract, he said, was awarded in late January, and the contract for the college was awarded last August. The $11 million for the college will see the project go a long way this season given that everything is ready to go and contractors have been given timelines.

Julienne Lake

The Labrador West MHA figures it may have come as a pleasant surprise for many that government will finance a $2.1 million to check out an iron deposit in Labrador West.

The project is a three-phase work program to assess the potential market value of the Julienne Lake iron ore deposit.

More infrastructure spending

Baker says the municipalities will see some gains in this budget that will spill over into Labrador West as well.

"The amount of infrastructure spending increased 22 per cent from last year," he said. "And, last year there was a record amount. So, that is really good news for all municipalities."

The MHA says he is very excited to see that amount of spending in his district, and says although some of it may have been a long time coming, he feels his government is listening to the people of Labrador West and is identifying the needs.

"There is a lot of good news in this budget," he said. "I am quite pleased that Labrador West is getting its just deserves."