Highways budget hasn’t been reduced, Schuler says

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This article was published 14/03/2018 (2765 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Manitoba Infrastructure Minister Ron Schuler argued Tuesday the province hasn’t reduced last year’s $502-million highways budget — though he acknowledged there is $350 million tabbed for highways in 2018-19.

“We are putting forward a $500-million budget,” but it’s more of an infrastructure maintenance budget, Schuler told reporters.

He said the number includes work on accessing the $540-million Lake St. Martin flood-management channels, road maintenance, and $33 million Schuler described as “water projects.”

“We have pressures,” he said. On some work, the province first has to put in all the money, then wait for Ottawa to repay its share.

Other provinces budget the same way, he said.

“Other governments have had them in, pulled them out,” Schuler said.

As for the 2017-18 highways budget, Schuler said: “I don’t know the exact amount of money we have unspent.”

Monday’s announcement that the province will build five new elementary and secondary schools starting in 2019 also pressures the infrastructure budget, the minister said.

NDP infrastructure critic Jim Maloway scoffed that regardless what Schuler says, highways spending is down significantly.

Maloway reminded reporters last week Schuler announced a $10-million road access into the Lake St. Martin project some 250 kilometres north of Winnipeg, without making it clear the work had not been awarded through open tender.

“The minister has been fumbling a lot of files lately,” Maloway said. “He’s counting ‘Freedom Road’ and the Lake St. Martin road, and schools, too, now he’s throwing them into the mix.”

nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca