We have all heard the popular saying, “There is only one taxpayer.”
And while the statement is not entirely accurate, as an individual you are just one of many taxpayers, the sentiment rings true in that there is one large group that funds all the levels of government — federal, provincial and municipal.
But it can also be said there is only one group who expect services in return and the truth of the matter is they don’t really care what level of government provides it, they just expect that they are there when they need them.
That being said, we agree with and understand the need for the delineation of government services, but that doesn’t mean, from time to time, there shouldn’t be some wiggle room if a particular level of government can provide a service better than another.
Take Woodlands County and Highway 658 for example.
For years, regular travellers, especially those in the Fort Assiniboine, Topland, and Goose Lake areas, have been complaining about what they perceive to be substandard winter maintenance, especially when compared to the other paved highways, 43 and 33, which go through the county.
Nor do we blame them. In our limited experience in driving the highway we too have found that there is a major difference in the quality of snow removal, so much so that our staff avoids the road all together.
The unfortunate part of it, at least according to Goose Lake/Freeman River Coun. Dale McQueen, is that it doesn’t have to be that way.
He said one of the problems Ledcor faces is the amount of traffic on the highway. Because of its location, Highway 658 sees a high volume of heavy industrial vehicles, especially logging trucks from Blue Ridge Lumber, as well as Millar Western who transports logs from Fort Assiniboine. As a result, during a snowfall, it quickly becomes packed down and rutted and depending on the temperature, McQueen said it is near impossible to get back to pavement.
The key, he said, is to get a snow plow on it as soon as possible, something the county is often able to do, but doesn’t because highways are a provincial responsibility which is contracted out, in this case to Ledcor.
McQueen, said the county has offered, if they are the first ones in the area, to have their staff plow the highway on their way to the roads that are the county’s responsibility. So far Ledcor has declined.
Although we realize there are liability issues why Ledcor might not be willing to do this, it should be possible to come to some sort of agreement where the county is able to plow the highway under certain conditions.
After all, when it really comes down to it, the travelling public does not care who provides the service, only that it gets done and done well.
