The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the Wakeham government to explain why the cost of paving projects in Newfoundland and Labrador nearly doubled over the past six years.

“Taxpayers are entitled to know why something as basic as paving a road is becoming so much more expensive,” said Devin Drover, CTF Atlantic Director. “Whether it’s poor contract management, or systemic overruns, the government needs to provide real answers and real data, not platitudes.”

This call echoes concerns first raised by the CTF last year when it highlighted the government’s inability to track cost overruns on paving contracts. At that time, the provincial government admitted it did not monitor how many contracts go over budget and refused to provide requested information about overruns.

The average cost of paving a kilometre of road in the province has increased from $330,000 in 2019 to over $610,000 in 2025, according to government documents.

“That response was unacceptable then and it’s unacceptable now,” Drover said. “It’s almost unbelievable that a government can’t tell taxpayers how often paving contracts exceed their budgets.”

The CTF is renewing its call for the provincial government to immediately disclose detailed paving cost data, contract performance metrics, and explanations for the dramatic increase in costs.

“Whether it’s the cost of living or the cost of roadwork, Newfoundland and Labrador families are feeling the squeeze,” Drover said. “The government must stop hiding behind excuses and start taking responsibility for how taxpayer money is spent.”