June 4, 1999
(Works, Services and Transportation)

Ministers comment on Transportation Week

The week of June 6-12, 1999 has been proclaimed as National Transportation Week in Canada and this year's theme is Transportation: Safe, Reliable, Efficient.

Lloyd Matthews, Acting Minister of Works, Services and Transportation, and Ernie McLean, Minister responsible for the province's Motor Registration Division, said today that since the first national week was proclaimed in 1969, government has taken great strides to ensure this province has a safe, reliable and efficient transportation system.

This year's theme highlights the role of technology in Canada's transportation industry and recognizes the role that technology plays in helping us to develop environmentally friendly and efficient transportation systems.

Highway construction on the island and in Labrador will see expenditures of $118 million - the largest highway construction program in the history of the province. Our provincial transportation networks includes highways and air and marine services. These networks link our communities to one another and to the world. They attract new businesses and ensure timely delivery of goods and services.

Mr. Matthews said: "Transportation is about more than concrete, asphalt and steel. It is about our future; our economy; and our environment. Most of all, it is about people. We cannot have a viable future without an appropriate transportation infrastructure. As we approach the new millennium, the challenge is to renew and sustain our infrastruture and to make every means of travel safer, smoother and smarter."

Mr. McLean said: "We are committed to renew and sustain our highway safety programs through administration and enforcement of the National Safety Code; greater awareness of the dangers and impacts of impaired driving; and continued high usage of seat belts which contribute to the national objective of making Canada's highways the safest in the world by 2001."

Media contact: Rick Callahan, Communications, Government Services and Lands, (709) 729-4860, or Gary Callahan, Communications, Works, Services and Transportation, (709) 729-3015.

1999 06 04         3:05 p.m.