Sonntag Lives To Tell About Drive On Seasonal Road

Sonntag Lives To Tell About Drive On Seasonal Road

Tuesday, October 03, 2006 at 12:47

A Saskatchewan cabinet minister now has a better idea of the need to bring all-weather roads to the province’s Athabasca region.

Last week, First Nations and Metis Relations Minister Maynard Sonntag drove a seasonal road that’s not maintained this time of year to get to Stony Rapids and Black Lake.

Sonntag says it took him around 13 hours to drive from La Ronge to Stony Rapids — and admits it was quite an experience.

When he got to his destination, he says he was surprised to learn many residents in the region were unaware the province was proceeding with the all-weather roads.

Sonntag says construction is already underway, and he estimates the project will take seven years — unless Ottawa comes through with funding of its own.

He also says a cost-sharing agreement with the feds would increase the quality of the roads being built.