The Saskatchewan government says it has a “comprehensive, integrated transportation strategy” to address rail-line abandonment, grain elevator consolidation and pressure on the road system.
The strategy was announced during the throne speech to open the legislative session.
Highways and transportation minister Andy Renaud said local decision-making will be part of the strategy. For example, if a branch line is to be abandoned, local residents will determine if a short-line railway is the best followup.
“It always has been part of our strategy to have the best possible transportation system,” Renaud said. “But we were under a lot of pressure before, trying to balance the budget. It’s taken a lot of sacrifices by people and one of those is that transportation is suffering.”
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The government intends to introduce a new transportation act during the session. Renaud said it will go along with the new partnership policy.
Premier Roy Romanow said the act will set out how consultation will proceed and “may even provide … not only the methodology for determining which roads should get the emphasis and the care and the attention, but also a methodology for actual contracting out for the actual work to be done.”
He said this is an attempt by the government to be more efficient and responsive. Both Romanow and Renaud referred to the work of the Southwest Transportation Council, which has examined these issues in its part of the province.
Welcome decision
Ron Gleim, chair of the council and an executive member of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, said putting decisions in the hands of local people is good news.
“A lot of people in the southwest did an awful lot of work,” he said. “Not only did they do the work for themselves but they’ve been all over this province promoting it and they feel quite confident that if they’re given the authority they will make the right decision. I hope this government will give them that kind of control.”
Gleim is concerned about the new legislation because the council has not been consulted.
Tory MLA Dan D’Autremont said he would like more details.
“The real strategy on transportation is simply put some money into it and fix up the roads,” he said, adding the province has to put more than the 39 percent of gasoline taxes and motor vehicle licensing fees it collects back into the system.
Glen McPherson, Liberal MLA for Shaunavon, said he would like the premier to encourage grain companies and railways to slow up abandonment plans.
