MLA, reeve happy with meeting on Hwy 8
March 18, 2024, 11:22 am
Kevin Weedmark
Moosomin MLA Steven Bonk and RM of Moosomin Reeve David Moffatt say they are happy with how a meeting with Highways Minister Lori Carr went last week.
“I knew that SARM Convention was on this week and I thought what a better opportunity to meet face-to-face with the minister to discuss concerns directly from the RMs that are affected,” Bonk said. “I was happy to facilitate that meeting. I’d been speaking with the minister for quite some time about the dire state of Highway 8 so she was well aware of it, as were the highway officials, and I just thought it was an excellent time for all of us to sit together in one room and talk about the situation.
“Our government is committed to making sure that our highways are in good order, particularly Highway 8, which is home to the most efficient potash mine in the world. As well we’ve got the terminal in Moosomin, we’ve got businesses like IJack right on Highway 8, we’ve got Goodman Steel in Rocanville. It’s a very important artery for our province. Having said that, they were very well aware of the need to have that highway in good order, but I think having everyone in the same room at the same time really helped solidify the fact that this needs to be looked at sooner rather than later.”
Bonk said it helped that the deputy minister of highways recently took the highway between Moosomin and Rocanville. “It helped for sure,” he said. “I’ve been trying to bring the minister up but she’s been so busy here with budget finalization and getting ready for the budget that will be presented on March 20, but she has agreed to come sometime.”
He said it’s good to know that a long-term fix is in the works for the section between Moosomin and Rocanville.
“Of course everyone would want it to happen sooner—I think everyone was surprised at how quickly the road deteriorated. That was a bit of a curveball. But I am happy that things are moving forward and we know that it’s definitely in the works now. I think just knowing that will be a bit of a relief to the citizens who rely on it every day.”
He said it feels good to see a positive meeting, and know that improvements to Highway 8 are in the works.
“That’s the good part of the job when you can help accomplish something. So I really appreciate all of the RMs, particularly the reeves David Moffatt and Melissa Ruhland, who have helped me out. I really appreciate their efforts and their advocacy. They’ve been a pleasure to work with and are just pragmatic people, so I really do appreciate their input.
“They presented their case in the proper manner. They did it objectively and left the emotion out of it—more on the fact of why we need it, the economic impacts, the importance of the road, and they did advocacy exactly how it should be done.”
He said the economic boom in the Moosomin Region helped make the case for Highway 8 improvements.
“It absolutely makes a difference,” he said. “As you know, our government released its growth plan for 2030 and a big part of our plan for growth includes increasing the GDP in areas such as value added ag products, potash exports, energy exports, oil and gas—an artery like Highway 8 between Moosomin and Rocanville is so vital to moving products—the products that we’re trying to get to market. That plays a huge role in deciding the priorities of our government.”
Moffatt says meeting went well
RM of Moosomin reeve David Moffat says he is happy with how the meeting with Carr went.
“Steven Bonk had called and asked if we could be available or if I could be available to meet with him and the Minister of Highways to discuss Highway 8 and asked me if I could get a hold of the Rocanville reeve to be able to come to the meeting, so we had a meeting with the minister, her deputy minister and colleagues, ourselves and Steven Bonk. So we got into it about Highway 8 and just how terrible it is and how it’s deteriorating.
“The first point I tried to make was the safety aspect and then I went into how big of a business Nutrien is and how many employees and subcontractors are there. Then from there we went onto the economic development in the area. Luckily enough her deputy minister had actually been on it a week prior so they knew a little about it, but when he drove on it he really found out how rough the shape of it is and how deteriorated it is.
“We discussed all of the projects that are happening in the area including the airport. They said it’s going to be a huge fix for this season, then working on the plan for resurfacing.”
Moffatt said he is very happy with the work MLA Steven Bonk put into the effort to get Highway 8 on the government’s radar.
“I would like to give kudos to our MLA for arranging the meeting and thinking of us and having us there because we’re on the front line. So he really was quick thinking.
“After that meeting, I’m confident we’re going to see some action on that highway which is important, because it’s one of our main arteries and connections and right now we’re seeing one of our biggest economic development drives ever, so this is really important for the region.”
