Prime minister promises to chipseal Highway 5 to Fort Smith if re-elected
Stephen Harper and Conservative candidate Floyd Roland rally Conservative faithful
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Monday, August 17, 2015
HAY RIVER
Prime Minister Stephen Harper made a campaign stop in Hay River last week, but his message was of particular interest to another community.
Floyd Roland, left, the Conservative candidate in the NWT, introduces Prime Minister Stephen Harper at a campaign event in Hay River on Aug. 14. - Jared Monkman/NNSL photo |
Harper announced a plan to finish chip-sealing Highway 5 to Fort Smith.
"A re-elected Conservative government would hard-surface the remaining gravel part of Highway 5 that runs through Wood Buffalo National Park from Hay River to Fort Smith," he said. "It will be a better road, and - this is important - our government will pay 100 per cent of the cost," he said.
That cost is estimated at $14 million.
The announcement was met with applause from about 200 invited guests at a campaign rally with Floyd Roland, the Conservative candidate in the NWT.
Harper said the work on Highway 5 will also involve the replacement of some culverts and widening of the route in some places.
In all, there will be 68 kilometres of new chipseal.
"I know this will obviously please Fort Smith's mayor," said the prime minister, referring to Mayor Brad Brake, who was at the announcement along with many others from Fort Smith. "I can certainly tell you that I've heard from Brad about how important the upgrade of Highway 5 is for this region."
Harper - speaking in front of a large Canadian flag and a group of construction workers - said the improved road will make life easier and safer for people living in the region and for tourists.
Following the announcement, Brake said he was very pleased the highway work has been promised.
"It's something I've been working on since I got elected in 2012," he said.
In fact, Brake said he had previously discussed the needed improvements on the highway with the prime minister.
"Two years ago when he visited Hay River I spoke to him specifically about that section of highway," the mayor recalled.
Brake would actually like to see the promise to improve Highway 5 copied by other federal parties.
"I'm hopeful that we will see it happen," he said. "I personally will be lobbying for it with all parties, and say this is what we need to have happen."
While the promise involving Highway 5 was the major announcement from Harper's stop in Hay River, it was still very much a campaign rally.
Harper heaped praise on former premier Roland at the event, which was held in a large indoor garage at Rowe's Construction.
"I cannot think of anyone who would be a better representative for the NWT in the Parliament of Canada than Floyd Roland," said the prime minister.
For his part, Roland, Inuvik's mayor, said Harper has visited the North more than a dozen times as prime minister.
"Not only does he recognize the importance of the North, but he has shown a keen interest and has a knowledge of the North, and has been investing in the North," said Roland, who went on to claim Harper has done more for the North than any prime minister in Canadian history.
Harper touted his government's investments in the North and pointed to the devolution of power over lands and resources from the federal government to the GNWT.
The prime minister was accompanied on the visit by his wife, Laureen Harper, and their two teen-aged children, Benjamin and Rachel.
They arrived on the evening of Aug. 13 and flew to Iqaluit about midday on Aug. 14.
