Donovan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Alberta Transportation has been looking after the local bridge funding program for many years and promised to build infrastructure in this province. They've now decided to pass the costs on to municipalities. Many of these bridges are 50 to 75 years old and need repairs. Downloading the cost to already overstretched municipalities is not fair and also places essential emergency services delivery at risk. Can the Minister of Transportation explain why his government is putting rural Albertans at risk by failing to maintain adequate levels of service for bridge funding? The Speaker: The hon. Minister of Transportation. Mr. Drysdale: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank that member for a good policy question. A year ago we had to make some tough decisions in the budget and save some money, and unfortunately we zero-funded the strategic infrastructure program, which included the bridge funding for municipalities. Being a councillor from a rural municipality I know how important that program is. But we also increased funding to the basic . . . The Speaker: First supplemental. Mr. Donovan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that the AAMDC has called to increase funding "to a level that reflects the needs of the community, agricultural sector and local industry," why will this government not come back to the table, agree to a second round of meetings with the AAMD and C to ensure that rural Albertans are not put at risk by the deteriorating roads and infrastructure in our ridings? Mr. Drysdale: Mr. Speaker, I can assure you that I meet regularly with my colleagues at AAMD and C, and I know the pressures that they've come under. Over the past three years this province has set aside $35 million each year, a total of $105 million, for bridge maintenance and preservation on provincial highways, a vast majority of which are in rural ridings. The Speaker: Final supplemental, hon. member. Mr. Donovan: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the minister of agriculture: given that the recent grain transportation crisis in Alberta affects farmers' access to markets, with even a press release just hours ago promoting what the rail service should now do, is this minister concerned that his government's lack of commitment for essential road infrastructure will complicate more problems for agricultural producers getting their products to market? The Speaker: The hon. minister of agriculture. Mr. Olson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to thank the member for the question. Obviously, transportation is very important to agriculture. That's why we've been so active in recent weeks in our advocacy after listening to our producers. Roads are equally important. I have the ear of the Minister of Transportation. We talk regularly. We're also planning a meeting with the AAMDC, hopefully this week. I would note, though, that the Auditor General's report just a year ago indicated that their finding was that our bridges were safe, so we're not talking about a safety issue. But we still are very . . . The Speaker: First supplemental. Mr. Donovan: I'll try it again if you want. The Speaker: Oh, I'm sorry. I was distracted. My apologies. Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville, followed by Calgary-Fish Creek.

• published: 24 Mar 2014
• views: 7