Debates of March 1, 2006 (day 39)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there has been ongoing growth in private and commercial vehicle use due to resource development. The climate is warming and bringing more precipitation and more variable weather patterns. Our transportation infrastructure is aging. The severity of each of these factors is expected to increase into the future. These factors are forcing the department to increase the operation and maintenance efforts.

Mr. Speaker in the past, the department’s own maintenance forces worked a standard 40-hour week, Monday through Friday. Maintenance requirements occurring in the evenings or on weekends were expensive as employees were paid overtime rates. It was always a challenge to respond in a timely and cost-effective manner.

To solve these challenges, the department has restructured its own force operations and changed the standard operation to a 12 hours per day, seven days per week. I would personally like to thank the Department of Transportation employees for their hard work and flexibility to accommodate these changes.

Mr. Speaker, this change in operations will result in dramatic improvement in road conditions during the winter months when adverse weather conditions are combined with increased commercial truck activity. This will make the highway system safer for all users. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Colleagues, I would like to direct your attention to the presence in the visitors’ gallery today of Martin Cronin, the British Consul General.

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With him as well is Ms. Carmen Moore, chief of protocol. Welcome to our proceedings.

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