How about a Memorial for Workers

The Alberta government is going to build a memorial for fallen Police Officers. But they don't build a memorial for the workers killed or injured on the job who built this province.

Heck they can't even get it together to fix Highway 63 which has killed more Fort McMurray workers than any accidents in the Tar Sands plants. If they did it would keep more workers alive and then we wouldn't need a memorial, or little roadside crosses to indicate the governments abdication of responsibility. Every one of these deaths are Ralph Kleins fault.

Klein closer to twinning highway to Fort McMurray

At one time the government said Highway 63 would likely be twinned in the next 20 years. But last July, Oberg said he would like to see a plan in place to widen the highway within seven years.

On Tuesday, the medical examiner in Fort McMurray renewed his call for twinning the highway following the crash that killed the oilsands workers from Calgary.

"This is just another preventable accident, and more preventable deaths -- the fifth in the last month on this highway,'' said Dr. John O'Connor.

"The numbers are getting bigger, the population is getting bigger, the road is getting busier and yet (the politicians) do nothing.''

In the last five years, 22 people have died and more than 250 have been injured on the northern roadway.

Earlier this year, the province announced $530 million worth of improvements to highways leading into Fort McMurray, including Highway 63.

But that doesn't involve twinning the section of highway where Tuesday's fatal crash occurred.

Johnson said it's just a matter of time before the highway is fully twinned.

O'Connor said the medical community has repeatedly asked the province to do something.

"We have unanimously voiced our opinion in the strongest possible terms,'' he said. ``We are frustrated and angry at the lack of action and commitment to twinning the highway.

"We are beyond waiting. We are going to do whatever it takes to get some action.''

Since 2000, the number of cars travelling to Fort McMurray has increased by roughly one-third as oilsands projects have expanded

Tags
Canada
Politics
Conservative
labour
Fort McMurray
Highway 63
Alberta
Ralph Klein
Government