Labrador MP shares some views

Labrador MP Todd Russell paid a visit to Labrador West last weekend to take part in the cancer fundraiser, Relay for Life.

Russell said he welcomed the opportunity to visit the area and the Relay was an event well worth attending for him.

"I was very moved when I walked into the arena and saw all the yellow t-shirts," he said of the annual event that raised $117,000 this year in Labrador West. "I was very moved by what Terry Curran had to say. He was one of the survivors who gave his reflections. I met with a number of cancer survivors there, and I think, no matter how often you meet survivors, you are always inspired by their tenacity and their quest for life."

Nice Change

Russell said the celebration of life was a welcomed change to the tragedies that have taken place in his riding recently.

"The last three weekends that I've spent in Labrador was to attend funerals," he said. "One was for my good friend Gordie Crawford. Then there was a memorial service for one of the students who drowned there in the Muskrat Falls. Then I attended Paul Deering's funeral in Bishops Falls whose plane crashed ...all these people were friends of mine."

Russell said he reflected that sentiment in his comments during the opening ceremonies at the Relay for Life and said it was good to stand in front of those survivors and celebrate life after so much tragedy.

The MP said the tremendous efforts volunteers put into such an undertaking is very admirable and the proceeds of this year's event tells a remarkable story of giving in this community.

Hearing the issues

While at the Relay, the MP said it was also a great opportunity to speak with his constituents on the happenings in the area.

The resounding concern, he identified, was the Trans Labrador Highway.

"Yes, most people talked to me about and the horrific state of the road particularly on certain sections, like the Cartwright section," he explained. "They tell me it's very rough and, even on sections over here towards Labrador West; I am told the grading is not being done very well and not kept in great shape. But the Cartwright section, especially, people say is horrific. People are getting the bottoms beaten out of their cars and tires spoiled. Now, some say there are improvements to certain sections of it while there are bad sections that have people [slowing] down to 25 km."

Paving

Russell said he'd like to know why, nearing the end of June, nothing has been done yet.

"I think we (federals) should have a role to play," said Russell. "When it comes to the construction phase of it; the federal government is contributing tens of millions of dollars.

From what I understand the federal contribution is $50 million. So, it's not all provincial money. But not very often the provincial government allows us to the have a say because they determine the priorities and determine where the money gets allocated."

Russell said the federal exclusion by the Province is a disappointment for him and he would prefer if the provincial government would keep him abreast and seek his support on the various transportation issues in Labrador.

What's the hold up?

"The paving seems to be a big issue here," he said of feedback he is getting out of Labrador West. "People can't understand why the paving isn't started when we've had an early spring; contracts were out early this year. People around town are very knowledgeable; they know that a lot of the work that was supposed to get done last year, did not get done. So this is a lot of carry-over work."

A goal of 80 km

Russell said the information he has indicates 80 km of paving would be done this year on the Labrador West end and 80 km on the Goose Bay end. He wonders, with so much of June gone and still no pavement laid, if that goal can even be reached this season.

"I absolutely thought, by June 1, it would be started," he said. "We are missing a month of construction and that is unacceptable. The government has a plan to have the road paved by 2014--Phase 1 completed from Lab. City to Goose Bay-- and that could be done a hell of a lot sooner. At this rate, we won't have a paved highway from Labrador City to Blanc Sablon until about 2025. That is a quarter of the 21st Century gone."

Russell contacted the Aurora following his interview to inform he has spoken to Minister Tom Hedderson (Works Services and Transportation) and he was told there are no significant delays on the Province's end and paving should start in a matter of days.