Ministers Statement

February 13, 2013

Opposition refuses to come clean on infrastructure: Lukaszuk

Edmonton... Deputy Premier Thomas Lukaszuk issued the following statement today on the Official Oppositions so-called infrastructure plan. The Official Opposition continues to play political games with their so-called infrastructure plan, which they promised to release in January. The document contains no references to any new infrastructure projects, does not name any projects that they would delay, defer or cut. Anyone can put together a spreadsheet of numbers over 10 years. Stating that the Official Opposition will cut billions of dollars in infrastructure spending over the next several years is a whitewash. The Official Opposition refuses to come clean with Albertans over exactly which roads will not be paved this year, which specific schools wont be built and which health-care facilities will be delayed. And Albertans waiting for a road to be paved in their community, or an overpass to be constructed, who need a new school or health facility should be asking those hard questions of the Official Opposition. The Official Oppositions thin infrastructure document also belies the fact that during the first few days of the 2012 fall session of the Legislature, Official Opposition MLAs demanded $1.5 billion in new infrastructure projects for their ridings alone. So they demand new infrastructure spending for their ridings, but tell the rest of Alberta that their projects will have to be delayed. Given that Alberta is one of the fastest growing provinces in the country, it is imperative that we meet the needs of all Albertans, now and into the future. We cannot wait to build new schools, hospital facilities or hold back on municipal infrastructure. Im proud to be part of Premier Redfords team, which was elected to build Alberta. We will continue to build Alberta and live within our means. That is the Premiers pledge, and it is my pledge. - Thomas Lukaszuk, Deputy Premier of Alberta - 30 Media inquiries may be directed to: Stefan Baranski Director of Communications Office of the Premier of Alberta Cell: 780-919-3898 stefan.baranski@gov.ab.ca @ABPremierComms Facebook.com/PremierRedford
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