• Highway #8 North of Gimli, Manitoba's Worst
  
• Highway #47 in Saskatchewan, Canada's worst

WINNIPEG: To highlight the deteriorating condition of Canada's roads, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today announced the winner of its 2nd Highway from Hell contest.

The contest, launched on May 15th as part of the CTF's 5th annual Gas Tax Honesty Campaign invited Canadians to nominate the worst stretch of highway in the country through submissions on the CTF's website at www.taxpayer.com, fax and email. Nominations were received between May 15th and September 12th this year.

The Winners:

Highway #8 North of Gimli is the winner for Manitoba's worst highway. "The province has clearly forgotten about those in the rural communities north of Gimli that have to drive on this treacherous highway with little to no shoulders, cracks and loose stones littered throughout that stretch of road," stated Provincial Director Adrienne Batra.

Manitoba's mega department of Transportation & Government Services spends over $341 million on roads, transportation and government services but Manitobans need more transparency. "We need to know exactly how much the province spends on roads and highways. Adapting our Municipal Roadway Trust Model, would be a good remedy, to ensure all provincial roadway revenues are actually spent on the roads where they are levied."

Dishonourable mention: The Trans Canada Highway. Winner of the CTF's first worst Highway Contest held in 2001, sections of this highway throughout the country were frequently nominated again this year.

"This contest highlights the poor state of Canada's roads and highways," added Batra. "Governments across Canada annually collect $13 billion in fuel taxes, with the federal government making up nearly $5 billion of this amount and returning less than 4% each year to road and highways; Canadians are getting ripped off."

"What is Prime Minister in waiting Paul Martin's plan for a new deal for cities and rural areas It is time he come clean and tell Canadians about his plans and how he plans to fix this country's crumbling pavement," said Batra. "We invite Mr. Martin and Mr. Smith to borrow liberally from the CTF's Municipal Roadway Trust Model to help rebuild Canada's crumbling infrastructure."

This year's winner who nominated Manitoba Provincial highway #8 North of Gimli will receive a gift certificate to be applied towards a free wheel alignment.