Yorkton Saskatchewan MLA Greg Ottenbreit said 2011 was a busy year, and he expects the pace to continue in the year ahead.
Looking back on 2011, Ottenbreit said the results of the fall provincial election, his second personal win, has to be looked on as both a surprise, and a highlight in terms of the Saskatchewan Party.
"For a lot of us it was fairly surprising," he said, adding party polling ahead of the election was strong and there was hopes of maybe adding three to five seats. "But to get 11, that was something that was quite surprising."
The new MLAs are invigorating, said Ottenbreit, noting they bring differing skills to Caucus.
"It's really encouraging to see the diverse backgrounds we can draw from now," he said.
On a personal level Ottenbreit said he enjoyed his work as Legislative Secretary to the Premier with special responsibility for the Vulnerable Youth Initiative.
"It was recognizing the needs of youth, and also of our economy," he said.
Ottenbreit said by finding ways to better position youth to take on the jobs of a growing economy the province and local area benefits.
Ottenbreit said for example, education and training needs to be developed which help bring youth more fully into the economy. As an example he said the potash sector is growing, and will need skilled workers moving forward.
"Somehow we've got to get everybody working together," he said.
Ottenbreit is also the Chair of the caucus' Standing Policy Committee on Human Services. He said the committee takes a very inclusive view of human service, encompassing health, education and social services, with the committee working to make the varied services work in a complimentary fashion with duplication of services.
Ottenbreit said he also had a chance to travel to Germany in 2011 for a parliamentary program, as one of five Saskatchewan MLAs to make the trip.
"It was a relationship building type of program," he said, adding it was initially started by the United States and Germany, but Canadian provinces now participate as well. " It's learning about different parliamentary systems You make some continuing relationships."
As for 2012, Ottenbreit said it will be a year of continued lobbying at the Caucus table in support of two major Yorkton projects.
The first of those projects, work to identify the future needs regarding the regional hospital in the city, is moving forward well, said Ottenbreit.
"The hospital stuff is well on its way. The community is pretty engaged," he said, adding a conceptual plan is being developed.
"It's got some momentum."
The second project is for a new skills and trades technology facility for Parkland College, and Ottenbreit said that is something of a focus for him.
"Right now my main focus is on the college," he said. "I want to see it come to fruition."
Ottenbreit said the college expansion is needed so the facility can remain in a position to respond to the changing needs of area business as it expands and grows.
"We need a project in place," he said, reiterating he'll remain a vocal advocate of the centre to receive provincial dollars.
"There's no doubt we needs a trades and technology centre here in Yorkton," he said.
