Highway proposal not acceptable

Times Reporter

 

Jason Hale met with citizens at MacDonald’s Clothing on Dec. 8 to discuss the highway realignment, and how he can help if elected. Residents from both the town and the county are concerned about the latest proposal from the Alberta government.

Hale is the Strathmore Brooks candidate for the upcoming election. He said the Wildrose party policy is, the MLA’s answer to the constituents and bring their concerns to Edmonton, not the party concerns. This will allow Wildrose MLA’s a chance to really speak on behalf of their constituents without fear. 

“That’s kind of been my campaign platform since I decided to run, is that nobody has a voice in this area anymore. I’m just a regular guy, I have no political aspirations other than standing up for the constituents in this area,” said Hale to the group.

“If I’m elected, or when I’m elected, and if that’s what the people in Strathmore want then I… will go to bat for you and speak against (the realignment) and do what I can to bring your opinions and concerns to the province.”

Hale said the information he has states plan approval by the province is the final step.

“So the province, so we as a constituency will have a final say if this will go through or not,” said Hale.

“The biggest thing about this though, for me, I’m not against taking the lights out. I don’t see a problem with taking the lights out and making it free flow highway or whatever they want to do, I don’t think that’s a problem,” said Don Knight.

“I think it’s inevitable that they are going to want the lights out, which is fine, but they don’t have to destroy valuable farmland or destroy farms to do it. They could do it without disrupting or disturbing hardly anybody, they’re going to go to the same traffic corridor.”

Hal Lust said he has heard a rumour that if approval is not given for the new route then the government will go back to their previous proposal. The precious proposal goes from Cheadle, cross country to Gleichen which he said is more of a disaster. 

“What we have to do is get together, as many of us, and sit down with the town and the county, find out if they’re with us or against us. Then we have to go to Edmonton and meet with first of all the minister of highways, explain it to him and then if we have to, go to Premier Redford,” said Lust. 

Mark Geisbrecht said if people can’t see it they won’t buy it and by moving the highway it will definitely affect the businesses and erode the tax base, both of which are concerns for business owners along the highway.

Concerns were still high at the end of the meeting, but the consensus seemed to be that something must be done and everyone needs to band together. Lust said he feels a change of government might be what it will take and that he thinks Hale may be the man to speak their concerns to the province.