PEI

Green Party wants Cornwall bypass stopped

Green Party of P.E.I. says the $65-million Cornwall bypass project should be stopped until to allow further consultation.

Peter Bevan-Baker says more consultation needed, but province says economic assessments show road is needed

The Cornwall bypass project will add $40 million to the province's GDP, says Transportation Minister Paula Biggar. (Brandon Holmes/Twitter)

Green Party of P.E.I. says the $65-million Cornwall bypass project should be stopped until to allow further consultation.

Leader Peter Bevan-Baker said in the legislature this week that he wasn't aware of any economic assessment that's been done to show the road is necessary.

But Transportation Minister Paula Biggar shot back and said she has already presented documents to support the project.

"I'm not sure the member was paying attention last week," she said. "I tabled over 100 pages dating back to 1979 of a number of different reports related to exactly why that project was necessary to move ahead and with the support of the town of Cornwall."

She also pointed out the project itself would add $40 million to the province's GDP.

In response, Bevan-Baker suggested the province stop the project until new research and new consultations could happen.