Saskatchewan voters head to the polls Nov. 7. Yorkton This Week has been asking Yorkton constituency candidates a series of questions on issues of interest.
This is Week III, and the two declared candidates, Chad Blenkin of the New Democratic Party and Greg Ottenbreit of the Saskatchewan Party, answer questions of interest to local voters.
QUESTION: In terms of education the Parkland College is increasingly important locally, especially for training for local business needs. Is the new Trades and Technology Centre for Yorkton a personal and party priority? Will there be provincial funding and when would it likely come?
BLENKIN: Saskatchewan's economy has been on a steady increase since 2006. The NDP fully understand that the foundation for success is our post secondary education system and in particular our regional colleges like Parkland.
I fully support Parkland College's desire to build a Trades & Technology Centre as it will help ensure more of our people are working on projects in the region, which feeds our local economy.
The NDP believes in working with partners, such as regional colleges, to expand and update training opportunities. Our recent post-secondary education announcement contained significant initiatives in this area, including, a $13 Million investment to expand regional college offerings of certificate, diploma, and degree credit courses.
We've committed to working with all our post-secondary partners to expand and update training opportunities throughout the province's post-secondary system. Our goal is to add 10,000 more spaces in four years.
These are just some of the initiatives that an NDP government would implement to make education more affordable & more accessible to everyone, regardless of where they live in the province.
As your MLA, I would work to see those initiatives take root here in Yorkton.
OTTENBREIT: Under the Saskatchewan Party the population is increasing. More young people are staying and more job opportunities are available. Employers are in need of a skilled workforce and helping to develop that workforce is a priority of the Saskatchewan Party. The Parkland College is doing a great job of filling the need, we recognize that not only more space is needed, but also a stand alone facility as the Yorkton Regional High School expands.
At the time of submitting the answers to these questions, the platform in its entirety is yet to be released, however much work has been done over the past four years. The expansion of the college is one of my priorities and I have regularly met with the CEO and Chair during the planning, and have also facilitated numerous meetings with the Minister of Advanced Education and his staff to see this project move forward. The college represented by the CEO and Chair and board, along with myself and our government have been working out the details of what the new facility will look like and the funding needed.
The Parkland College was not "shovel ready" when federal funding was also available, so at this point the Trades and Technology Center will fall on local and provincial funding.
Because the project is on the horizon and much of the background is done, and the site of the new college is in place, I anticipate the provincial portion of funding to be in place for the project to commence once the first phase details are finalized.
QUESTION: The housing market is a tight one. What is your party's plan to ensure those working for lower wages and those on fixed incomes have access to reasonable housing?
BLENKIN: The NDP has an Affordable Homes Plan that will deal with skyrocketing rents and the high cost of home ownership. We would:
Encourage more starter homes that people can afford by rebating the PST on materials input costs for new houses to be priced under $280,000 and rebating the PST on the first $10,000 in repairs to homes more than ten years old.
Invest $20 million into co-operative and community organizations to buy land for housing.
Provide a $2000 grant to first time homebuyers to cover closing costs and other related expenses for homes purchased for under $280,000.
Offer no-interest loans to co-operatives and community organizations building new housing stock.
End unfair rent increases through next generation rent control. We will introduce legislation based on a fair rents model that makes allowances for new construction and non-corporate landlords.
Invest $250 million to create 2500 new public rental units, and upgrade existing units by working with community organizations and co-operatives.
OTTENBREIT: To leave more money in people's pockets the Saskatchewan Party has adjusted income taxes so that 114,000 lower income people no longer pay any provincial income tax, and the amount of provincial income tax that everyone pays has been reduced. We have more than doubled the Seniors Income Plan, and our platform will increase it further over the next four years. We have increased the minimum wage three times, increased rental supplements and shelter rates six times and these will continue to be adjusted. We have developed a separate income plan for disabled people that will be increased by up to $400 per month over the next four years. We are committed to ensuring the provincial economy continues to thrive, so better job opportunities are developed.
Experts agree that rent control does not work and an increase in the housing supply is what is needed. This was the reasoning used by the NDP when they ended rent control in 1992. Successful examples show that an increase in available housing is what is needed to stabilize costs. To that end the Saskatchewan Party government has made significant investment in low income subsidized units with 850 complete and 1100 more underway provincially. Locally we have seen 34 units through Yorkton Parkland Housing, 10 transitional youth spaces, the second and third Habitat for Humanity homes are underway through our $3.5 million provincial partnership with that group, and 22 new units will be available in the new year through our partnership with Yorkton Housing. Our Saskatchewan Advantage Housing Plan is investing $252 million to develop 4600 entry level homes and affordable housing units over the next five years, and we are seeing some local projects taking shape that are utilizing this program.
At the time of submitting the answers to these questions, the platform in its entirety is yet to be released, however we have already reduced property taxes over the last four years, and will introduce the 'First Time Homebuyers Tax Credit' to make home ownership more affordable.
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