Progressive Conservative Leader Tony Wakeham kicked off his third week of campaigning in Pasadena by pledging to improve road safety and reinstate 24-hour snow clearing services in Newfoundland and Labrador. The decision to eliminate round-the-clock snow clearing for the Trans-Canada Highway in the 2016 provincial budget, which Wakeham criticized as a “Liberal mistake,” prompted his commitment.
Currently, the Avalon Peninsula’s most populated areas maintain 24/7 snow clearing, while the Trans-Canada Highway receives 24-hour coverage five days a week between Whitbourne and Stephenville. Wakeham emphasized the importance of timely snow plowing for commuters, highlighting the safety concerns of poorly maintained roads due to delayed plowing.
Expanding 24-hour snow clearing is estimated to cost $1.9 million, with a focus on prioritizing the busiest roads first. Wakeham also pledged to double the province’s investment in moose fencing to $1 million and outlined plans for proactive brush cutting, road maintenance improvement, and infrastructure repairs.
Additionally, Wakeham reiterated his commitment to enhancing volunteer firefighter support and ensuring adequate equipment for firefighters. In a separate development, NDP Leader Jim Dinn proposed doubling the provincial first-time homebuyer incentive from $1,500 to $3,000, aiming to alleviate homeownership challenges faced by residents and retain young individuals in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Dinn’s housing-focused campaign promises include constructing 1,000 affordable housing units annually, establishing a new Crown corporation called N.L. Homes to address the affordable housing waitlist, implementing rent control measures, advocating for tenant rights, and constructing a new seniors’ living complex in Labrador.
