Transportation and Works
July 22, 2009

Provincial Government Committed to Southern Labrador Regional Airport

The Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Transportation and Works, today set the record straight regarding the Provincial Government�s commitment to a regional airport for Port Hope Simpson, Labrador.

Minister Taylor was responding to misinformation issued by the official Opposition yesterday. Minister Taylor stressed that the Federal Government has long been aware that the establishment of this airport is a priority for the Provincial Government and has documentation to prove it.

"A detailed letter with a five-year plan was sent on September 5, 2007, by John Hickey our provincial transportation minister at the time, to the federal transport minister clearly stating our intention to move forward with this project with the help of our federal counterparts," said Minister Taylor. "Even before that, this letter was preceded by various communications on the matter and we continue to bring it to the attention of our federal counterparts. For the Opposition to state that we have not communicated our position is blatantly false."

Minister Taylor pointed out that the plan, included in the September 5, 2007, letter, was forwarded again by departmental officials to their federal colleagues on September 24, 2007, and since then, the province�s commitment to the project has not wavered.

"We continue to press the Federal Government on this issue but thus far they have not stepped up to the plate," said Minister Taylor. "The Williams Government�s investment in Labrador is unparalleled in this province�s history and make no mistake this government is committed to creating a regional airport for Southern Labrador in Port Hope Simpson."

NOTE: The September 5, 2007 letter from the Honourable John Hickey to the federal transport minister is available with this news release on the News releases website or at www.gov.nl.ca/releases/2009/tw/port_hope_simpson_letter.pdf   

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Media contact:

David Salter
Director of Communications
Department of Transportation and Works
709-729-3015, 691-3577
davidsalter@gov.nl.ca

2009 07 22                                                      3:35 p.m.
 


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