New Cabinet offers little chance of change for The Battlefords
The Wall government’s new cabinet offers very little hope for positive change in The Battlefords according to MLA Len Taylor.
“The big issues here continue to be affordable housing, support for seniors, health care, and of course the replacement of Saskatchewan Hospital and I don’t see the new cabinet members giving us any change in policy on these or other matters important to the people of The Battlefords,” Taylor said.
“There has been virtually no support from the Wall government to support people trying to find affordable housing in the Battlefords. This means that seniors, young people coming here for education or for their first jobs, and immigrants seeking affordable rental accommodation have been frustrated and penalized during the past three years. The new minister responsible for housing, June Draude is unlikely to change that.
“The Wall government’s most important election promise to the people of the Battlefords was to maintain his commitment to building a new Saskatchewan hospital. The Health Minister, Don McMorris has kept his job and therefore development on the new hospital which has been non-existent to this date will continue to be slow. The new Finance Minister, Ken Krawetz says he will continue the work of former Finance Minister Rod Gantefoer so again I see virtually no quick action on Sask. Hospital,” Taylor said.
Another issue gaining in importance in the northwest is transportation and Taylor says the fact that there was no change in the Minister responsible, Jim Reiter, means that there may be no developments here either.
“As our economy, and the economy of the northwest, continues to grow, I see more and more truck traffic on the highways going north. A lot of that truck traffic is supporting the mills in Meadow Lake. Without a rail line serving the north west we are going to see more and more traffic on highway 4 north which also serves recreational traffic and work traffic for people who live near the lakes and work in The Battlefords. We need to see additional attention paid to the highways running north, and we need a provincial government working to restore rail traffic to the north so that truck traffic on the highways can be reduced,” he said.
“It was clear a cabinet shuffle was in order,” Taylor added. “Even though the Wall government is only three years old, they quickly became out of touch with the people of the province. This was evident with the lack of consultation that has occurred on numerous issues, not the least of which was the withdrawal of legislative protection for habitat lands.
“Ultimately, what Wall needs is fresh advice and a real vision for a growing Saskatchewan. He needs to be told to reduce the cheerleading, and concentrate on managing an economy that is benefiting some and penalizing others. It really is all about management, and this shuffle does not come close to restroing confidence in this government’s ability to manage our economy,” Taylor said.
