Selinger offers to split costs of Brandon road work
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/04/2016 (3780 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Greg Selinger wants to go half-and-half with the Wheat City on its roadwork bill.
The NDP leader said if re-elected, his government would pay for half of Brandon’s road projects for the next four years.
There’s no defined cost for the 50-50 proposal, Selinger said on Thursday. It would replace the annual grant Brandon currently receives from the province.
“The number on this would be whatever they want, they are doing three (million dollars in roadwork) right now, so our investment would be $1.5 (million)”
There would likely be no limit on the arrangement, Selinger added.
“If it got crazy we’d have to talk to them, but I don’t think they would, it’s a pretty responsible city council,” he said.
It’s a similar provincial funding model that is used for Winnipeg.
“(Brandon) is a major hub for this part of the province,” Selinger noted, adding no other municipalities have been offered this particular arrangement.
Brandon Mayor Rick Chrest said the Association of Manitoba Municipalities has campaigned hard for more provincial funding and less stipulation about how to spend it.
“Every (party leader) so far has indicated a willingness to more thoroughly partner with municipalities. That would tell us that the work has been done, collectively,” he said.
Chrest hadn’t seen details of the NDP promise, but said he was happy that it seems to indicate an “enhanced level of support.”
“We’ve been pleased to hear the other two party leaders having made commitments as well to partner with municipalities,” he said.
The mayor added April 20 — the day after the election — would likely be too late for the promise to be helpful for this construction season.
“It’s a little bit like a ‘when is the best time to plant a tree’ type-of-thing. Sure, 20 years ago — but if not, then today,” Chrest said.
Selinger, in Brandon for two provincial leaders’ debates in on Thursday, made the announcement at a rally at local party headquarters. He was flanked by Brandon East incumbent Drew Caldwell and Brandon West candidate Linda Ross.
» tbateman@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @tombatemann