June

[Wabush Mayor Jim] Farrell fully expects to see work commence by June of next year on the $100 million-hardtop project that will span five years before completion. [The Aurora, August 7, 2006]

The Minister of Transportation says he expects to see federal funding for the Trans Labrador Highway flow from Ottawa next summer. Speaking on VOCM Open Line with Randy Simms, John Hickey said he has made the case to the federal government for additional funding for the highway, and has received assurances from Federal minister Lawrence Cannon. Hickey says an agreement with the feds for $100 million over the next five years for hard surfacing of TLH from Goose Bay to Labrador West should be signed by June of next year. [VOCM News, August 23, 2006]

The mayor of Wabush is pleased with the work of the province’s new transportation minister. “I walked away from the meeting [with John Hickey] with a great feeling,” he said emphatically. “We’ll have an agreement signed by Christmas hopefully on $100-million 50-50 cost-shared for the Trans-Labrador Highway between Labrador West and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Hopefully it’ll be done early enough that we’ll be able to get the best prices and we should be able to start construction in June.” [The Aurora, September 18, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, this government has been engaged with our federal counterparts. This is a number one priority, the Trans-Labrador Highway, for the Department of Transportation and Works and for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. I am happy to report here today, Mr. Speaker, that we are in discussions with the federal government. We have had a number of meetings, and I can say with all confidence today, Mr. Speaker, that at the end of the day here, we will see the hard surfacing of the Trans-Labrador Highway start as early as next June. [John Hickey, House of Assembly, November 27, 2006]

Mr. Speaker, we are providing information. We are also providing progress, I say, on the Trans-Labrador Highway. Mr. Speaker, as has been said here in this House, they do not like hearing the truth. They do not like seeing the successes of this government and this minister. Let me say this, Mr. Speaker: We are working with our federal counterparts and I have every confidence — every confidence — that we are going to see hardtop on the road between Happy Valley-Goose Bay and Labrador West, and we are going to see that in June of 2007. [John Hickey, House of Assembly, November 28, 2006]

We have not inked the deal. We are, as I said earlier, we don’t have a signed agreement. What we have said is we have every intention on getting all the Is dotted and the Ts crossed and it is my hope and intention to have a deal signed and an agreement so that we can begin work on the Trans Labrador Highway in June of next year. Officials within the departments are working out the details. The commitment that the Minister Cannon made to me and to my officials that were there is that the federal government is prepared to partake in the fifty-fifty funding arrangement on the Trans Labrador Highway and that we’d like to see that start as early as June the first. [CBC Labrador Morning, November 29, 2006]

Provincial Transportation Minister John Hickey says the federal government will live up to its commitment to cost-share the hard-topping of the highway. Hickey hopes the final deal will be inked before Christmas. He says the first 20 million dollars will be spent on the highway next June. [VOCM News, November 29, 2006]

The Newfoundland and Labrador government will start paving the Trans-Labrador Highway this summer, even without a written agreement for federal participation, a provincial minister says. Transportation and Works Minister John Hickey said Ottawa has informally pledged to match a $50-million provincial expenditure on paving a stretch between Labrador City and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. However, there is no written agreement, and Hickey said the province can wait no longer. “We are going to continue to press the federal government here. We are not letting them off the hook,” said Hickey. “I am not letting them off the hook, I can assure you.” Hickey — who said he expects a firm commitment from Ottawa soon — said paving work will start in June. Putting pavement on the gravel surfaces that cover much of the Trans-Labrador Highway has been a key issue for years in Labrador, and surfaced most recently in this month’s Labrador West byelection. Premier Danny Williams reiterated the pledge during a campaign stop. “The premier made the commitment, and when this premier makes a commitment, he lives up to it — each and every time,” Hickey said. [CBC News, March 29, 2007]