The River of Pride has reached out to the Premier’s office to get some clarification on rainbow crosswalks, after a tweet from Premier Brian Gallant caused confusion yesterday.
It stated, “Municipalities are allowed to paint rainbow crosswalks – and they are encouraged to do so as an expression of pride and inclusiveness.”
This goes against recommendations stated in a letter to municipalities from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure that said they would not approve any multicolour crosswalks on provincial roads while the study is ongoing.
It also stated that rainbow crosswalks are not illegal, but the province believes they should not be painted until a study by the national group, Transportation Association of Canada, is completed.
The study is looking at the safety implications of “Decorative Crosswalk Pavement Markings.”
Some communities have chosen to go ahead with the rainbow crosswalks on municipal roads, Including Saint John, which just approved the decision at last night’s City Council meeting. Sussex and Dieppe also have painted rainbow crosswalks.
The River of Pride says, “It would specifically like to ask Premier Brian Gallant and the Province of New Brunswick if rainbow crosswalks can be painted on some provincial roads, like they have been in the past, roads such as Main St. in Moncton and highways that pass through some rural municipalities’ only crosswalks. The directive to municipalities from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure could still stand, all while the premier promotes municipalities paint rainbow crosswalks on non-provincial roads. We will continue to work with municipalities to encourage avenues of support that will be allowed by the provincial government. We will also work with other Pride associations across Canada to address the Transportation Association of Canada’s current review of rainbow crosswalks, their lack of public consultation and the possibility of a future ruling that could affect all roads.”
