Media/Press
“There is no better job creator or economic growth generator than deeper trade.” Ed Fast, Canada’s Minister of International Trade
May 16, 2012CANADA’S FAST SAYS ‘TRADE IS THE NEW STIMULUS’
—Canada Trade Minister Ed Fast
OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada — Ed Fast, Canada’s Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, hailed the aggressive pro-trade plan for jobs, growth and long-term prosperity embarked upon by the conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
“It is the broadest economic expansion plan in Canadian history,” Fast said in an address May 7 to more than 100 members of the Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance during its conference in the Canadian capital.
“Trade is the new stimulus,” Minister Fast said in quotes from the speech released in a statement.
“We need more trade, more investment and deeper partnerships to help strengthen the financial security of hard-working Canadians and Americans alike.
“There is no better job creator or economic growth generator than deeper trade. That’s why our government is continuing to take steps to make the Canada-U.S. partnership – the world’s greatest free trade success story – even stronger in the years ahead.”
Route 219 expansion waiting for governor’s approval
May 2, 2012WJAC-TV (April 27, 2012)
SOMERSET COUNTY, Pa — It’s taken 13 years for the Route 219 expansion project to get funding and permits. Now, a bill that would start construction is close to being passed, pending Gov. Tom Corbett’s approval.
The project is being called a regional coalition, and at a meeting on Friday, leaders from West Virginia, New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania said they’re not giving up on the bill.
Leaders said the Route 219 expansion would boost the regional economy and getting it under way is their No. 1 priority.
Read MoreShuster on panel that may free up Route 219 funds
May 2, 2012The Tribune Democrat (April 27, 2012)
MEYERSDALE — Concerned about when Congress will pass the Surface Transportation Extension Act, members of a north-south coalition pushing for completion of a four-lane Route 219 on Friday applauded the appointment of a highway supporter to a conference committee on the issue.
Route 219 coalition members also were pleased with the primary election win of another highway advocate.
Highway supporters from three states gathered Friday in southern Somerset County as part of an ongoing effort for completion of the 11-mile stretch of Route 219 between Somerset and Meyersdale. The two-lane road would be expanded to a four-lane limited access roadway.
Pa ‘missing link’ in Continental 1
April 19, 2012The Courier Express (April 18, 2012)
We are all one big region and the world is getting smaller.
That was the message Meg Lauerman, project manager for Continental 1, gave Tuesday at a luncheon sponsored by the Greater DuBois Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development and the DuBois Rotary Tuesday at the DuBois Country Club. She said that regionalism and jobs go hand in hand with a major highway.
Lauerman said about 50 years ago, the Route 219 Association started and groups started meeting and said, “We need a decent highway.”
Officials lobby gov on Route 219 project
April 16, 2012The Tribune-Democrat (April 15, 2012)
SOMERSET—With the victory of a four-lane Route 219 between Somerset and Meyersdale within reach, but not in hand, advocates of the long-elusive road project took their case to Gov. Tom Corbett last week.
Actually the meeting, which included members of the North/South Appalachian Highway Coalition, was with Kathleen Duffy Bruder, Corbett’s deputy chief of staff, and Jim Ritzman, PennDOT’s secretary of planning.
