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JASON CHILIBECK: More money for Hwy 2 improvements

With all the oil and gas revenue in Alberta, there should be enough money to add two more lanes to Hwy 2, said Red Deer South’s Liberal candidate.
Jason_Chilibeck
Jason Chilibeck said he can’t understand why the busy four-lane highway shouldn’t be expanded when it’s Canada’s second most used highway.

With all the oil and gas revenue in Alberta, there should be enough money to add two more lanes to Hwy 2, said Red Deer South’s Liberal candidate.

Jason Chilibeck said he can’t understand why the busy four-lane highway shouldn’t be expanded when it’s Canada’s second most used highway.

“I want to see an interstate highway,” he said.

Chilibeck said he knows some people are calling for high-speed rail between Calgary and Edmonton as well. He wonders if it’s truly viable.

“One I would favour more immediately is a (light-rail) transit system in the community,” said Chilibeck. “I strongly believe that within Red Deer, there are ways we should have a rail transit system versus investing in buses.”

Light-rail transit could take place between Red Deer’s two main shopping malls for instance, he said.

Chilibeck said that seniors’ care must be fixed and by doing so, some of Alberta’s healthcare needs will be addressed too.

“And through the funding boost (promised by the Liberals), we’ll be able to increase our healthcare capacity. The thing to remember is that this doesn’t happen overnight.”

Chilibeck, a businessman, said he would like to see a policy in place where governments are unable to run a deficit. The Liberals would bring forth a bill forcing government to follow the Deficit Elimination Act, with the only way around the bill to hold a provincial plebiscite.

“And with the Heritage Savings Trust Fund, I don’t see why we’ve been stuck at $15 billion for the past 15 to 20 years,” he said. “If my investment earns zero per cent interest, I’d be really upset.”

Chilibeck, 40, has been married to his wife Theresa for 15 years and they have a seven-year-old daughter and a boy aged nine.

ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com