Province undermining Islanders’ concerns over highway project, transportation critic says

PC Transportation Critic Steven Myers said Transportation Minster Robert Vessey’s remarks regarding the old- growth forest are another example of the Ghiz government undermining Islanders concerns about the Plan B highway realignment.

In recent media reports Vessey dismissed concerns about the loss of oldgrowth forests due to Plan B, despite Forestry Minister George Webster’s recent call to protect Island forest lands.

“First, Minister Webster should be the one to talk about matters of forestry, where is he hiding?” asked Myers. “Secondly, why suddenly has Minister Vessey decided to discuss the affected trees, when he has refused to face the public with issues relating to his own department and instead forces government employees to take the heat on his behalf?”

Myers said the Ghiz government has failed in their responsibility as elected officials to address Islanders’ concerns regarding Plan B.

“Why hasn’t the premier and his ministers answered to the fact that they cannot afford this highway; the fact that no proper public consultation took place; the fact that they kicked people out of their homes; the fact they have not produced figures which support their safety claims, or the fact that the environmental impact assessment was flawed?”

Myers stressed that while it is extremely important to protect old- growth forests, public opposition extends much further than that. He firmly believes the Ghiz government is destroying the integrity of the democratic process in P. E. I. by refusing to listen to Islanders about the Plan B highway realignment.