Budget met with mixed reaction

The provincial budget for 2010 was brought down last Monday and was immediately met with mixed feedback from some people in Bay St. George.

Councillor Vince Parsons of Stephenville Crossing, also that community's finance chair, presented their case for funds to Finance Minister Tom Marshall at pre-budget consultations in January.

The big ask was money for repairs to the town's Main Street area and also the bridge, which runs alongside the old gut bridge in the community. He says the new gut bridge is in a state of disrepair. Some councillors have called it an eyesore and their hope was that government would come onside with the funds to fix it.

"In terms of infrastructure - a billion dollars - that's fantastic from our point of view but we're not sure if there is any money there for our infrastructure we desperately need to get done this year," he said. "We are arranging a meeting with Joan Burke on that issue."

The councillor said although the money for fixes to his town weren't evident, he was pleased to see the money invested into health care and also to support the Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Mill.

Bob Byrnes is a Stephenville businessman, a former Stephenville town councillor, and a current vice-president of the Bay St. George Chamber of Commerce.

He said he saw nothing in the budget that would immediately provide some benefit to the Bay St. George region.

"You look at this budget, and basically it's money going to St. John's or money going to Corner Brook," he said.

Mr. Byrnes takes issue with the lack of funds provided for a new headquarters building for College of the North Atlantic, among other things.

"The main campus building is busting at the seams, the LA Bown building is falling apart it's so old. The new HQ building - that's supposed to be built - it's a number one priority with the college."

Mr. Byrnes said he has no issue with government spending money on Grenfell College and Memorial University but notes if the province is going to push trades as the careers of the future, they should also be funding the school that teaches them.

He also noted Stephenville's provincial courthouse, which remains wheelchair inaccessible and is located in a building left over from the American base days.

"We've been after the government for a number of years to look at a new courthouse building for Stephenville, you know if you're handicapped you can't even get into the building here - there was nothing done about that."

He did, however, see some bright spots in the gives to other communities.

"I was pleased to see they did recognize the need for dialysis in Port aux Basques and that will be forthcoming," he said.

John MacPherson is a resident of Bay St. George South who works in Stephenville. From his point of view, he says overall he felt it was a good budget, but he too was disappointed not to see monies for a new college headquarters.

"I've been watching for several years now for some significant dollars for a HQ building for the college here but I don't see anything along those lines there which is a personal disappointment for me," he said.

"I'm somewhat surprised we're projecting deficits for the next four years. In this time of plenty it would seem to be the time to get that under control for the benefit of our children and grandchildren."

reporter@thegeorgian.ca