It’s been an exciting year for Tony Cornect.
In addition to his duties as MHA for Port au Port, he was also asked by Premier Kathy Dunderdale to be her parliamentary assistant.
“I carry out the duties the premier assigns me to, representing her at various functions,” he said. “I’ve been to a few speaking engagements so far.”
There have also been many memorable events and projects in his district over the past 12 months.
Mr. Cornect said the province provided the community of Mainland with waterline upgrades through Municipal Capital Works funding.
“That was a major project,” said Mr. Cornect. “It’s a two-phase project, of which the first phase is done now. It was well over a million dollars for the first phase.”
He said he expects local officials to apply for more funding in 2013 to complete the project.
The Town of Lourdes also received funding for a new municipal building.
“A few years ago, the Town of Lourdes purchased the old Lourdes Elementary School,” explained Mr. Cornect.
“The town decided it wanted to put their municipal building there, so last year they moved their fire department into the gym part and have now received funding from a Capital Works program to upgrade a section of the school for the offices for the municipality.”
Other Capital Works projects in the district in 2012 included work done on Colonial Avenue and Pleasant Street in Stephenville. In addition, he said the Stephenville Downtown Business Association received funding to install new streetlights on the south side of Main Street.
Other highlights
Mr. Cornect said he was happy to see the Town of Port au Port East joining forces with Port au Port West–Felix Cove–Aguathuna to form a single fire department. He noted the province provided funding for new pumper trucks for Port au Port East and Stephenville.
He said with all of the communities in the district sending garbage to St. George’s and costs depending on how much is sent there, the government is encouraging all municipalities to recycle and compost.
“Talking about composting, I’m very pleased the Town of Cape St. George has taken the initiative to set up a compost centre,” he said, noting the town received funding from government for that initiative.
Other projects included funding for upgrades to the Regional Aquatic Centre; Our Lady of the Cape, Stephenville High and St. Thomas Aquinas schools; and Lourdes Medical Clinic.
“Another highlight was a successful season of the Stephenville Theatre Festival,” he said. “It was a fantastic season. The shows that I saw were so professional.”
Milestones
Mr. Cornect said there were many reasons to celebrate in 2012, including the centenary of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, the 60th anniversary of the incorporation of the towns of Stephenville and Port au Port East, and the inaugural Qalipu First Nation Band election.
He also praised the partnership between the Stephenville Historical Society, the Town of Stephenville and Branch 35 of the Royal Canadian Legion for the opening of Regional Museum of Art and History.
“We now have a home for a lot of Gilbert Higgins’ artifacts, we now have a home for a lot of the artifacts and history pieces of the Bay St. George area,” he said.
“We certainly hope that it will grow as research continues and people start bringing more historical pieces to the museum so that we can have a place that tells the story and history of our beautiful piece of the province.”
He noted presentations of Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medals were presented to three residents in the district. In addition, Mr. Cornect said he was pleased to attend Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Port au Port East.
Looking ahead
Mr. Cornect described the province’s economy as “white hot.”
He said there’s a lot of work in the province coming up in 2013, including the Muskrat Falls project, and he hopes a lot of local skilled-trades people will avail of job opportunities within the province.
“I’m hoping for more Municipal Works projects in the district,” he added.
In addition to the communities of Mainland and Lourdes continuing with their waterline projects, he expects Kippens to look for help with a new community centre and their sewer project.
He also said roadwork is important for the district, and he would like to see tourism expanded in the area.
