“If they want the way to encourage tourists in our province, then restore the roads so that driving in Saskatchewan is a pleasure again and not a challenge.”
- Lorne Calvert, June 23, 1987, Hansard
 
“…[R]ed flags and pot-holes are not what the people of this province are looking for. They’re looking for the kind of a highway system that used to be in this province prior to this government’s administration, where you didn’t have to rattle your car apart to get from point A to point B.” 

         - Eldon Lautermilch, April 4, 1988, Hansard

SASKATOON— The Official Opposition Saskatchewan Party wants drivers to write in and challenge Premier Lorne Calvert to drive on the worst roads in their area.

“The Saskatchewan Party is encouraging people to invite Premier Calvert to drive their highways so that he can have a better understanding of how awful some of our highways are and the negative impact crumbling roads have on local economies, tourism and the safety of local residents,” Saskatchewan Party Highways Critic Randy Weekes said.  “Some of these highways are so bad, they don’t even deserve to be called highways.”

Motorists can log onto the Saskatchewan Party Caucus’ website at www.skcaucus.com to submit their invitations to the Premier, along with photos and testimonials about their highway.  The Saskatchewan Party will then plan a summer driving tour route for the Premier based on submissions.  Click here for more information.

Weekes says there are a number of regions of the province that contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to the provincial economy through industry and tourism where the highways are crumbling.  Highway 368 running through the community of St. Brieux is one such example. 

“St. Brieux is a small town that has prevailed by building some of the most successful businesses in province that employ hundreds of people and pour millions of tax dollars into provincial coffers, and yet they’ve renamed the highway ‘Hellway 368’ the road is so bad,” Weekes said.  “People who live in this area and others like it in the province wonder how the NDP government can take so much money out of these areas, and then fail to invest in their roads.”

Weekes noted in some instances, these roads provide a community’s only link to local health care services, which is the case with Highway 32 from Leader to Swift Current in the south west. 

“The residents of this area are so frustrated that they’ve launched a website and are selling bumper stickers that brag about surviving the drive,” Weekes said.  “The road is so treacherous it makes it difficult for the ambulance to get people to the hospital in a timely fashion.”

“Residents who travel these roads on a daily basis are fearful for their safety.”

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For more information, Saskatchewan Party Caucus, Regina, 787-4300.