Nickel Belt MPP Shelley Martel has gone public criticizing Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci and the Liberal government for not taking any action to improve Highway 69.
Bartolucci hasn't said much in the last 10 months since the Liberals were elected about improvements to the dangerous stretch of road between Sudbury and Parry Sound, after seldom keeping quiet about the issue while in opposition, says Martel.
In a news release, Martel says Bartolucci, who was named Minister of Northern Development and Mines by Premier Dalton McGuinty, promised an action plan for Highway 69 within six months of forming the government.
Bartolucci made a promise during the election campaign to announce starting and completion dates for the highway as well as a detailed plan to pay for the project, says Martel.
Nothing has been done 10 months later, she said.
?Northerners know there's no excuse for Rick Bartolucci and the McGuinty government to ditch their campaign promise to deliver a modern, wider and safe four-laned Highway 69,? said Martel, in the release.
?If they do, it's just another example of a McGuinty broken promise.?
Bartolucci says completing the highway between Sudbury and Parry Sound remains one of his government's top priorities.
Detailed plans will be unveiled by the end of this year as part of a comprehensive infrastructure program to be announced by his government, he said.
Before being ousted, the Tory government had announced a 10-year, $1billion plan to expand Highway 69 between Sudbury and Parry Sound.
It's time for the Liberals to recommit to this project and save lives in the process, said Martel.
