Lela Evans, MHA for Torngat Mountains District is pleased that the government has finally awarded contract to the pre-feasibility study on the of a road connecting to the Trans Labrador Highway to the communities in her district in Northern Labrador.
“I am pleased to see the pre-feasibility study finally awarded, instead of just another re-announcement of the same funding allocation without action. Since 2016 I have calling to this to happen, because my district suffers to a lack of transportation when compared to the rest of the province. This particular government kept promising that there would be a study for three budgets in a row.”
She added “It is about time. To me it is about fairness. The lack of a Trans Labrador Highway connection prevents my people from travelling when they need to. They get stuck with long weather delays and often cannot book a flight even if the weather is good cause there are not any flights available. Government claims they have spent billions of dollars on the highway in Labrador, but not a single dollar has been spent in in connecting my district yet we suffer the greatest gaps in transportation.”
“The poor transportation services have impacted the cost of living dramatically. People cannot afford to fuel their snowmobiles and boats to travel. It is also impacting their ability to fish and hunt, which means they cannot offset the high price of food. They cannot heat their homes cause the cost of heating fuel has gone from $250 to $500 a drum. They cannot afford to travel to cut wood to heat their homes.”
Evans said government’s removal of the freight boat in 2018 is having a large impact on access to goods and service.