St. John’s, N.L. (February 13, 2025) — Loyola O’Driscoll, PC MHA for Ferryland, today spoke out after Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Fred Hutton confirmed the long promised 64 plow trucks the province boasted about in a January 10 news release and photo-op, will not arrive this winter season.  Instead, the province has only received seven trucks to date.

O’Driscoll was reacting to media reports where Hutton confirmed, just weeks after the latest Furey Liberal photo-op celebrating the arrival of the first five trucks, that no more may be coming this winter season.

“Depots all over the province, including in my own district, are dealing with equipment breakdowns and then the replacement equipment breaks down. And now we know that the promised 64 trucks, that are desperately needed, have turned into a total of seven trucks,” said O’Driscoll. “If it wasn’t so serious it would be laughable. The Minister blames COVID and supply chain issues despite a signed contract with the supplier for new trucks. Maybe he should look in the mirror for the real reason.”

O’Driscoll noted the Minister also pointed to a shortage of operators and mechanics for the winter maintenance program.

“This has been raised in the House of Assembly over the years, including with the Estimates Committee. Unfortunately, the Liberals have not taken any action. Instead, they are relying more and more on outside contractors which can be very expensive.

“Perhaps this is the main reason the Furey Liberals refuse to reinstate 24-hour snow clearing after eliminating it in 2016. They don’t have the equipment or personnel to keep our roads clear 24/7. A new PC Government will immediately reinstate 24-hour snow clearing and ensure we have the equipment and staff needed to provide the service the people of the province deserve,” said O’Driscoll.

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