DEER LAKE Local politicians and citizens from as far away as Sop’s Arm dropped by the Deer Lake Motel to get make suggestions to provincial Finance Minister Tom Marshall about what should be included in the next budget.
Marshall is traveling across the province for consultations, which take place in most major areas.
Residents from Sop’s Arm made the trip down from their White Bay town to ask for funding for the area’s 911 operations, which they said need to be improved.
“If a disaster strikes we, will not be prepared for it,” said Sop’s Arm resident Neville Lane.
Lane told Marshall that residents of Sop’s Arm feel as though they are 10 years behind the times, with no high-speed Internet, cellular service or even access to a radio station, so it makes sense that their 911 service would be out of date.
“We need our emergency service to be brought up to date because someone could get hurt or worse if it is not,” he said. “If something happens we’re at the point where an injured person has to be left behind while someone else goes to get help and that’s not right.”
Sop’s Arm residents are also asking for road improvements, and a program for people to receive better information when they get prescriptions filled, as well as better services for the town’s youth.
The Deer Lake meeting included local councillors including Deputy Mayor Sandra Pinksen and councillors Elmo Bingle, and Sheila Mercer. Paul Chaulk of the Deer Lake Chamber of Commerce was in attendance, as well as Janet Murphy, spokesperson for the Breastfeeding Coalition of Newfoundland and Labrador, requesting that funding for her organization be included in the next budget, scheduled for later this year.
Chamber of Commerce representatives Desmond Ball and Paul Chaulk spoke of the importance of maintaining infrastructure in the area. With the development that is happening, including the Trans-Labrador Highway, Muskrat Falls and an ever-growing airport, they are anxious that the roads and highways be well funded for maintenance.
After the meeting the finance minister said that he was pleased with what he had heard so far in his travels across the province. But he cautioned that miracles cannot be performed.
“It’s no good for people to come to me with a wish list,” he said. “We’re doing all we can, but we can only do so much. We’re hearing some great ideas, but we will be sitting down and figuring out exactly how to use the extra revenue wisely.”
He was referring to extra oil revenues the province has been seeing in the past few years and said the province still has a massive debt that needs to be brought down.
He added that oil revenue is finite, and it should be used to invest in programs that would create jobs after the oil wells run dry.
