On November 6, 2025 I raised the issue of the many outstanding road safety issues in District 18 Rustico-Emerald. These include simple changes like the installation of speed radar signs on the approaches to our communities – some of which I have been asking for since 2018; the removal of passing zones – for example near adjacent to the intersection of Church Rd and Rte 6; the review of stop signs at intersections; and the addition of crosswalks. They also include larger issues like the dangerous intersection of Rte 2 at Graham’s Rd and Freetown Rd; and a road saftey plan for North Rustico. Constituents must be consulted and included in the planning for these changes, or it puts their success and acceptance at risk.
Speaker: The hon. Member from Rustico-Emerald.
B. Trivers: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Road safety is a priority concern for the constituents of District 18 Rustico-Emerald. It should be no secret to anyone in this House because I’ve raised it numerous times.
I do want to thank the minister and his staff for the projects that have been completed to date, but there’s a lot more work to do – a lot. In fact, I still have requests outstanding from 2018; that goes back a long time.
I would like to see proactive steps taken to improve road safety. Although I’ve been an MLA for over ten years, I often feel like a dentist because it’s like pulling teeth to get road safety projects completed here in this province.
Road safety
A question for the minister: What are you doing to proactively improve road safety on our Island roads?
Speaker: The hon. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Hon. E. Hudson: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I’m not going to go back to 2018. That was not a time period that we were in administration. Were they proactively looking at safety? I would certainly hope so.
With that, though, certainly, I do appreciate the advocacy that the hon. member has brought forward, not only for his own district but for safety across the province as well. You’ve heard me refer to that as being paramount in my department in every decision.
With that, I again congratulate the member and thank him for his advocacy. Just this year, the member has requested over ten safety audits to be done – over ten – in his district, with an additional 15 individual requests. That shows his passion for safety on roads, and certainly roads in his district.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: The hon. Member from Rustico-Emerald.
B. Trivers: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Road safety is an issue in District 18 Rustico-Emerald. Thank you to the minister for proving that point. These are things that need to be addressed. My constituents want immediate action to address road safety. They don’t want to wait for tragedy to happen. Yet, fixes take years, even when the problems are clear.
For example: Rustico Road, Route 6, and the approaches to the intersection where it intersects at Church Road. This area has been flagged as dangerous for years. There have been tragic accidents. Finally, this year, local residents took matters into their own hands, and they prepared a petition. They want to see the whole section on the approach reduced to a 60-kilometre-per-hour speed, and they want to get rid of the passing zones, because it’s just an accident waiting to happen.
This summer, partial action was promised. They were going to remove the passing zones, but yet, nothing happened. We’re talking about repainting lines, not a major project. Well, I’m yanking on this rotten tooth today.
Question to the minister: Why was this not done, and will you commit here today that a full review of this intersection and its approaches be completed and action taken as soon as possible to fix it? Thank you.
Speaker: The hon. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Hon. E. Hudson: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
In answer to the hon. member’s question, absolutely yes.
With that, we have undertaken a comprehensive traffic and transportation review in that area. I would anticipate that that review will be in my hands before the end of this month – at the very latest, early December – and I will be more than happy to share that information with the hon. member.
You look over the last six years, though, that we have been in administration. The investments that have been made in that district – and I think it is important to look forward, but also to realize the investments that we have made:
• $14.8 million – capital road construction
• $26 million for safety improvements to five local bridges
• $8.6 million for paving
As they would say, that’s not peanuts. That is major investment in that district as we have seen major investments that this government has done in transportation right across the province.
With that, we will continue that work. I look forward to continue working with the hon. member and, once again, appreciate his advocacy.
Speaker: The hon. Member from Rustico-Emerald.
B. Trivers: Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As the saying goes, too much is never enough. I’m glad the minister mentioned the traffic study that’s being done in North Rustico, and I give the minister a lot of credit for making that happen. Again, this was something that was advocated for, for years, and this minister said yes, he’s going to do the traffic study.
Now, we were supposed to get the report this fall. I’m glad to hear it’s still coming. The plan was to have a public meeting because consultation matters, but then, out of nowhere, a tender went out to extend the boardwalk – no notice, no consultation. This is poor communication that now puts the project at risk. We need to talk with the constituents.
This has been happening for many years. I remember over a decade ago, at a meeting of the Sterling Women’s Institute in Stanley Bridge, when the previous MLA publicly urged the chief engineer to listen to the community. I even wrote a song about it.
Speaker: Is there a question, hon. member?
B. Trivers: Yes. I believe this reflects the systematic communication problem between the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure and our communities, especially on capital projects.
Question to the minister: What are you doing to ensure your department engages local communities, and especially the local MLA, to inform Transportation and Infrastructure work?
Speaker: The hon. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Hon. E. Hudson: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
I would strongly encourage the hon. member to table that song. I would love to hear it; I certainly would.
Hon. E. Hudson: You look, though, right across the province: I had mentioned the number of dollars of investment that this government has put into our roads, bridges, and infrastructure right across the province. I know how hard my staff works, day in and day out. I want to state my appreciation to all the staff in Transportation and Infrastructure.
Sometimes do I end up not getting back to ones as fast as they may want me to? I endeavour to as much as possible. I am very sure that it’s the very same with staff in my department.
With regard to the review that’s taking place, I also want to point out as well that there will be a five-year traffic transportation plan with consultation that will be put in place for the area. I know that it’s something that the hon. member has been advocating for. I believe he’s been advocating probably for a number of years.
Again, I’m not going to speak for previous administrations and their decisions, but I think the hon. member realizes – and I’ll give him this assurance again – that I want to work with him. I want to work with every MLA in this House to improve safety.
Thank you.
Speaker: Definitely indulgence there.
