Get Moving BC

Polak Calls on Surrey NDP to Stand Behind Port Mann Twinning

SURREY - It's time for Surrey's NDP MLAs to stand up for their constituents and denounce NDP leader Carole James's opposition to the twinning of the Port Mann Bridge, says BC Liberal MLA Mary Polak.

"By opposing the Port Mann twinning, Carole James is sending a clear message that she doesn't care about Lower Mainland commuters stuck in gridlock away from their homes and families," said Polak. "Well I know for a fact people living in communities like Surrey and Langley are tired of traffic and want this bridge twinned. It's time for NDP MLAs like Harry Bains, Bruce Ralston, Sue Hammell and Jagrup Brar to start speaking up for the people they are supposed to represent and denounce Carole James's ill-conceived opposition to this important project."

After refusing to take a position on the Port Mann bridge twinning for over a year-and-half, James finally announced her opposition to the project at the UBCM annual convention in Vancouver Thursday.

But at least one Surrey NDP MLA has spoken in favour of twinning the bridge. Just last week, Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains told the Surrey
Now: "We are not opposed to the twinning of the bridge." (Surrey Now, Sept 21, 2007)

Bains also said: "My constituents believe the twinning of the bridge is part of the solution [to traffic congestion]." (Surrey Leader, Sept 14, 2007).

"Constituents want to see this bridge twinned. Our government wants to see this bridge twinned. Even NDP MLAs like Harry Bains want to see it twinned. The only one who is against twinning the Port Mann seems to be Carole James. It's time for the Surrey NDP to start speaking up for the residents they are supposed to represent, reject Carole James's opposition to Gateway, and support this project," said Polak.

Twinning will mean transit across the Port Mann Bridge for the first time in 20 years, and a cycle route across the Port Mann for the first time ever.

posted by Jordan Bateman @ 10:06 AM