Province to pay Carillon $9M for highway upkeep until April

The province will continue paying troubled company Carillion Canada for highway maintenance until the end of April.

The government confirmed Wednesday it will pay Carillion $8.9 million, but Transportation Minister Brian Mason said the cash will only cover operations and won’t allow the company to turn a profit.

U.K.-based parent Carillion PLC announced in January it had gone into compulsory liquidation due to a crushing debt.

The Canadian subsidiary — responsible for about 43 per cent of provincial highway maintenance — employs 6,000 people and generates $1 billion annually.

Mason said if the government didn’t continue with Carillion, maintenance would stop, creating a “very dangerous situation.”

“The alternative was to leave 43 per cent of Alberta provincial roads without adequate maintenance during the winter season ... or pray there’s not going to be any snow in March — and what are the chances of that?” Mason said.

Mason said two sets of auditors are keeping their eyes on the company to make sure it’s not profiting off the cash.

“It was not my first choice, but we have an obligation to make sure our roads are safe and are wellmaintained through the winter,” Mason said.

INCREASED DEER HUNT?

Environment Minister Shannon Phillips is taking a close look at next season’s deer hunt.

Biologists in her department examine hunting practices around this time each year, but Phillips said she’s on board with the notion of upping deer tags next season.

Phillips has heard repeatedly about the problem of exploding deer numbers in the south of the province, and was again asked about the issue at the Rural Municipalities of Alberta conference Wednesday.

The issue is more than just deer nibbling at gardens, she said — it’s causing real problems for ranchers.