Due to the onslaught of use, high waters and flooding over the past hundred years, a bridge that faithfully served Virden and area residents in southwest Manitoba was condemned in 2014.
Now, after patiently waiting for five years to have the bridge replaced or suitably repaired, the populace is seeking action, and why it is taking so long?
I have been informed that the federal government has put aside their 80 per cent of Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) funding and is only awaiting provincial action and their 20 per cent contribution of funding to build the bridge. Cost estimates are varied, ranging from $1.5 million and more.
The 20 per cent funding may be a stalling factor and considered as a budget excuse, however, when I read that the Pallister government contributes a $400,000 shot of taxpayers' money for the Jets White Out parties (CBC News. 9 Apr. 2019) there is another factor to consider.
As I see it, it's all about where the rural faithful are and where the majority of other potential voters are located (City of Winnipeg) and with the possible call for an early election, the government is playing politics!
This is further supported in that, according to CBC news, the province only kicked in $2,000 for the 2018 season White Out parties, through Travel Manitoba. But then of course, 2018 was not an election year, was it?
John Fefchak.
Virden, MB.
