The year of 2018 was a year of change for Saskatchewan, but not one of dramatic upheaval. Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbreit looked back on 2018 recently with Yorkton This Week.
On a provincial level, it was a new leader that set the tone for the province, with Scott Moe taking over the reigns as premier and established the government’s tone for the year. That tone was more confrontational, with Moe and the government fighting against the carbon tax set to be imposed by the federal Liberal government. Ottenbreit said that they don’t want to just be at loggerheads with the federal government, but that there are some things they have to object to if they want to ‘stand up for Saskatchewan.’
“We continue to work as cooperatively as we can with them, but there are significant things that we had to focus on that are within our best interests as a province, and we are going to stand up for those things,” Ottenbreit said.
He points to the province’s climate action plan as something that makes more sense than imposing a tax, and he said independent sources say the province’s ideas for combating climate change would make an actual difference, while he believes a tax would just be an expense.
The other fight is for more pipelines in the country, trying to get an easier path to tidewater for the province’s oil to increase the amount of money that the oil sector can make, as the lack of access is keeping prices for Saskatchewan oil low.
“The province has been losing an astronomical amount of money, both in resource revenue to the province, but also to the sector… It’s very important that we do advocate for our industries and have them strong.”
The third fight has been the one for an adjusted equalization formula. Saskatchewan has received no equalization money, even as the economy slowed, while Quebec stands to make billions out of the equalization formula, which Ottenbreit sees as evidence that the formula has flaws.
“There is a very strong case that the formula needs to be looked at again to make sure it is equitable and fair to all of the provinces.”
Beyond fighting, the province is continuing down the path laid down by former Premier Brad Wall. They plan on balancing the budget next year, though he said they’re going to continue to invest in infrastructure while they do it. He points just outside of town for evidence of that infrastructure investment, as passing lanes are set to be installed in 2019 from Canora to Melville.
There are changes to workers compensation, whether it’s to increased coverage for firefighters or enhanced maternity leave. He’s also proud that they introduced Claire’s Law, which allows police to disclose someone’s violent or abusive past to a new partner. Truck driver training has also been overhauled in the wake of the Humboldt Bronco’s tragedy, with more training required. They are also opening up the province to ride sharing, something he said has been advocated for a while.
Other major investments help the area in a more general way, such as the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital and the new Saskatchewan Hospital in North Battleford. While not in Yorkton specifically, they would be facilities that people from the area may need to use in the future, so Ottenbreit said they will benefit local residents. While, as Minister for Rural and Remote Health, he’s well aware of the struggles faced in the province, he said they’re making progress, and that is being recognized beyond the province’s borders.
“All provinces are struggling with different issues when it comes to mental health, addictions and sometimes services. We will continue to work to find successes in those areas.”
That said, there’s always the question of whether or not there is a new hospital coming down the pipe for Yorkton. Ottenbreit wants this to happen, and while all options are considered for healthcare facilities - whether that’s renovation or a new building - he can’t see renovation working for the hospital as it is, given that the architecture of the ‘60s isn’t compatible with the needs of medicine in 2018.
“We are in a financial challenge, but these facilities still need to be replaced.”
While he said there have been other infrastructure builds in Yorkton over the past 11 years with Ottenbreit as the area’s MLA, the hospital has been a need for the city for a while, and he is going to keep working on that project going forward.
