Liberals left Indigenous leaders hanging at a crucial meeting to plan new road infrastructure.
Alberta Minister of Transportation Devin Dreeshen organized a meeting with Indigenous leaders who are pleading for the construction of new road infrastructure in the region.
Liberal Minister Sean Fraser’s parliamentary secretary failed to attend the planned meeting and “threw staff” members at the attendees, according to Dreeshen.
The Transportation Minister was hoping this meeting could secure the federal government’s commitment to First Nation road funding; however, they have proceeded to ignore the issue.
“It was very unfortunate that Minister Fraser’s parliamentary secretary could not attend the meetings. They just threw staff at us,” Dreeshen told The Counter Signal.
“But it is something that we’re going to continue to push for because this road is so important for that region of the province as well as the First Nation families that live along that road,” he added.
“There’s an $8 million commitment from the province, an $8 million commitment from Clearwater County…but we need the federal government to step up and they haven’t for years,” said Dreeshen.
He also mentioned that First Nations are “terrified” after Climate Change Minister Steven Guilbeault announced there would be no new funding for road infrastructure.
He said First Nations feel “it’s their constitutional responsibility as a federal government to build roads.”
Guilbeault announces no new funding for road projects
Minister Guilbeault said in February there will be no funding for any new road projects and that using the money for road materials is a waste of time.
Instead, he said it’s “better invested into projects that will help fight climate change” while also urging citizens to use public transit or active transport instead of their cars.
Guilbeault semi-backtracked a few days after, admitting his comment required clarifying. The former CN Tower-scaler’s clarification was that the feds would no longer be funding “large” road projects.
Regardless, according to Dreeshen, Guilbeault is an “eco radical” who should be expelled from the federal cabinet.
Dreeshen added, “These types of comments he’s making are dangerous to Canada and the growth of our country. If he remains, that damage and that uncertainty would remain.”
