Dear Editor:
Over and over, the provincial government has assured Saskatchewan people that the P3 Regina Bypass is the most cost-effective option. But when pressed on the costs of maintaining the bypass, it couldn’t back up the claim.
In the Legislature on October 21, Highways Minister Nancy Heppner evaded the question. That same day, SaskBuilds Minister Gordon Wyant told reporters that maintenance costs weren’t broken out of the P3 contract – they are lumped into a massive $680 million budget item that includes financing, rehabilitation, and “risk transfer” costs.
Apparently the maintenance costs are too “commercially sensitive,” as Wyant put it, for even the government signing the deal to see.
How can government claim the bypass P3 provides value for money when it doesn’t even know what the contract’s maintenance costs actually are?
As Minister Heppner acknowledged in question period, under the bypass maintenance deal, an Alberta-based company will be responsible for clearing snow and laying sand on this small stretch of Saskatchewan highway.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Highways’ experienced maintenance crews – who already have all the necessary equipment and facilities in Regina – will be told to skip over the bypass as they plow and sand all other highways in the area.
How can it be a good deal to bring in an Alberta company to take on a job that Saskatchewan’s highway workers are already trained, equipped, and on hand to do? How is it more cost-effective to send taxpayer money to a corporate head office in Edmonton, instead of keeping it in Saskatchewan?
When it comes to the maintenance costs for the Regina bypass, the provincial government has a lot of explaining to do. Unfortunately, it seems explaining themselves is something they just can’t – or won’t – do.
Sid Wonitowy
Yorkton, Sk
