Loyola O’Driscoll says this was eliminated in 2016 as a cost-saving measure.
The PC MHA for Ferryland, Loyola O’Driscoll is urging the government to reinstate 24-hour snow clearing in the province. He says this was eliminated in 2016 as a cost-saving measure. O’Driscoll says “during the winter months, people travel on our highways at all hours of the night, including healthcare workers and those commuting to shift work.” The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure issued a news release recently stating more than 400 seasonal heavy equipment operators, management and staff have been hired and recalled for the winter season. Through a multi-year tender, the department has also ordered 64 new tandem-axle plow trucks at a value of $24 million. O’Driscoll says he’s not confident the province is ready for winter and a lot of the new equipment is outdated. The new trucks are currently being manufactured and will be delivered in the coming months.