(Halifax) The $68 million that the Hamm government will be doling out in the form of $155 tax refunds could have been put to much better use fixing the province’s roads, according to the Nova Scotia Highway Workers’ Union.
Gareth Drinnan, the president of CUPE Local 1867, says, “Most Nova Scotians would agree that rather than getting a one-time cheque for $155, that money could have been better spent on badly-need road repairs.
“The finance minister could have given more relief to all Nova Scotians, who are tired of driving on chewed up roads and really old bridges in this province,” says Drinnan.
Drinnan says the budget announced a total of $18.5 million in increased spending for transportation. “That’s only a quarter of the amount they’ll hand out in tax refunds,” he says.
Adds Drinnan, “Just look at what happened on Monday (March 31). In just 24 hours, over $10 million in damage was caused by flooding.”
Over 200 roads and numerous bridges across the province were either washed away or damaged as a result of the flooding.
For information:
Gareth Drinnan, President, Nova Scotia Highway Workers’ Union
(902) 832-1867 (o) - (902) 295-2241 (h)
John McCracken, CUPE Communications Rep.
(902) 455-4180 (o)
Gareth Drinnan, the president of CUPE Local 1867, says, “Most Nova Scotians would agree that rather than getting a one-time cheque for $155, that money could have been better spent on badly-need road repairs.
“The finance minister could have given more relief to all Nova Scotians, who are tired of driving on chewed up roads and really old bridges in this province,” says Drinnan.
Drinnan says the budget announced a total of $18.5 million in increased spending for transportation. “That’s only a quarter of the amount they’ll hand out in tax refunds,” he says.
Adds Drinnan, “Just look at what happened on Monday (March 31). In just 24 hours, over $10 million in damage was caused by flooding.”
Over 200 roads and numerous bridges across the province were either washed away or damaged as a result of the flooding.
For information:
Gareth Drinnan, President, Nova Scotia Highway Workers’ Union
(902) 832-1867 (o) - (902) 295-2241 (h)
John McCracken, CUPE Communications Rep.
(902) 455-4180 (o)