MLA Tables a Bill to Remove Cobequid Tolls
The MLA for Cumberland North told members of the Legislature today, “It's time for the McNeil Liberals to remove the tolls on the Cobequid Pass and stop putting Cumberland County residents and businesses at a disadvantage.”
Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin says, “For too long, my community has shouldered the costs of this highway. The government has indicated that it has collected enough revenue to pay the existing debt, so it’s time for the tolls to come off.”
The government has ignored the issue as Smith-McCrossin whipped this poor horse over the last few years. So, today she introduced a bill called An Act to Amend Chapter 4 of the Acts of 1995, the Highway 104 Western Alignment Act that would require the government to pay the debt to Western Alignment, then remove the tolls from the pass.
When asked yesterday in Question Period about the removal of these tolls, Highways Minister Lloyd Hines said the government is going to take advantage of these extra funds for highway improvements, so that they won’t have to use general revenue.
This is in marked contrast to all other highways in the province and flies in the face of public feedback which clearly noted people do not want to pay an extra tax to build or maintain highway infrastructure.
In fact, the government shelved plans for new toll highways following the public input and have proceeded with plans for new construction from general revenue.
Smith-McCrossin says, “There are many highways in many communities that are in need of maintenance and repairs, but there is only one that is being forced to pay an additional toll on top of the taxes they already pay for these services.”
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