The Highway 3 bridge that runs over the Oldman River. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Premier Kenney called “untrustworthy” and “arrogant” over funding for Lethbridge bridge replacement

Aug 1, 2019 | 6:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips has harsh words for Premier Jason Kenney.

On March 15th, 2019, the then NDP government announced $100-million in funding for a replacement to the Highway 3 bridge that runs over the Oldman River and through the coulees.

Then, just five days later, LNN reported that Kenney made a campaign stop in the city prior to the provincial election and pledged to voters that he would keep the infrastructure funding in place.

Fast forward to July 26th and the United Conservative administration said the funding was under review and would be subject to a report on Alberta’s “fiscal health”.

“What we have here is Jason Kenney saying one thing during the election and immediately back tracking on that afterwards,” says Phillips. “This is a matter of public safety for Lethbridge, and what it shows is that Jason Kenney is untrustworthy, we can’t take his word, he is arrogant in that he thinks he can get away with it with ignoring Lethbridge.”

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The investigation into the province’s finances is expected to wrap up by August 15th.

Phillips speculates that Alberta, and especially Lethbridge, will see cuts to funding for new schools, assisted living, seniors care, child care, and other matters “even through Jason Kenney said they weren’t going to.”

She claims that the UCP government has brought Alberta back to the “entitlement” of the days where the Progressive Conservatives were in power for over 40 years, which she claims was an era where nothing was done for Lethbridge and promises were made without having the intention of following through with them.

Neither of Lethbridge’s two MLA’s currently hold cabinet positions, so Phillips is asking everyone in the city to write to the provincial government and to Cc her.

She told LNN that she will do everything in her power to amplify the voices of those living in Lethbridge and to ensure that everyone who wants to speak out about funding concerns will be heard.