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The Progressive Conservatives are moving on an election promise to bring back 24-hour snow clearing on busy provincial highways and roads, but the price tag is higher than what the party originally touted while on the campaign trail this fall.
During the general election campaign, now-Premier Tony Wakeham promised to bring back the service with an estimated cost of $1.9 million annually.
That number is now $3 million — a 58 per cent increase — according to the party, which made the announcement on Wednesday morning at the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure depot in Foxtrap.
“You’re going from $1.9 [million] to $3 million. Yeah, it’s an increase. But again, it’s for people’s safety,” Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Barry Petten told reporters.
“And you look at the costing, I mean that was based on 2016 dollars, so here we are in 2025. So I don’t think $1.1 million increase is huge.”
Round-the-clock snow clearing for the Trans-Canada Highway was cut following the release of the 2016 provincial budget, which eliminated 26 snow clearing jobs. At the time, the Dwight Ball Liberals estimated the province would save about $1.9 million annually.
Petten wasn’t able to say when the service would actually begin
“Whenever we’re staffed up, they’ll be on the road 24/7,” he said, adding he hopes new staff will be in place in the coming weeks and the province is in the process of recruiting for overnight shifts.
“In order to bring this to fruition, we are looking to hire 50 new, full-time and part-time snowplow operators.”
He said the service will be in place for 14 routes, but that number could increase in the future.
But with the increase of the plow budget, Petten said other costed commitments in the PC election platform could also change.
“I think that right now … we feel comfortable with our costing,” he said.
Hiring woes
Jerry Earle, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE), said Wednesday’s announcement is a positive move to improve the province’s road safety.
However, Earle said, recruiting 50 new plow operators could be a problem, and he plans to have that conversation with Petten.
“That is a problem. Retention and recruitment across many areas of public service, especially works of transportation, is really pronounced,” he said.
He added heavy equipment technicians are also difficult roles to fill.
NAPE president Jerry Earle says filling 50 new plow operator positions could be a problem for the new government. (Patrick Butler/Radio Canada)
Liberal MHA Jamie Korab, the party’s transportation critic, said the 14 routes Petten pointed to not having 24-hour snow service actually do, but they’re on an on-call basis.
“So now instead of people being at home, men and women getting called in to work, they’re going to be set at a depot getting called into work. So there’s not as much change,” said Korab, adding he isn’t seeing many details behind the $3 million price tag.
Other initiatives
Petten said snow clearing is just one part of a “broader readiness plan,” with more than 450 seasonal heavy equipment operators, management and staff having been recalled and hired.
In addition, he said the province bought $38 million in salt and sand, and it’s been delivered to 67 depots.
The inspection and calibration of the province’s 551 snowplows and loaders is also ongoing.
The province is also buying 44 new plows to replace aging equipment, Petten added.
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