For Yorkton MLA Greg Ottenbreit joining the provincial cabinet as Minister Responsible for Rural and Remote Health was certainly the highlight of 2014.
Ottenbreit said as an MLA he always had a voice for constituents.
“I don’t know how other governments run, but we’re pretty open. Everybody has significant input,” he said.
But a seat at the inner table with cabinet puts Ottenbreit in all the final decision making process.
“I’m in on that final decision making process,” he said.
It is a final opportunity to voice local constituent interests and concerns, he offered.
“It’s nice to be right then when the final decisions are made,” said Ottenbreit.
At the same time being a Minister means less time in the local constituency, and added responsibilities for Ottenbreit.
In terms of learning the portfolio, Ottenbreit said he had to hit the ground running as he took over the position when the former Minister stepped aside. As a result a number of meetings were scheduled, and he took them on after only a couple of days in office.
“A lot of things were set up prior,” he said, including a ministers meeting in Alberta, and a swing through northern Saskatchewan to look at rural health issues in remote areas.
Ottenbreit said it helped with his transition into the new role having been involved with the Human Services Committee “for the better part of the last six or seven years.” He said that work gave him some understanding of issues which fall within the new portfolio, adding “but now I’m taking a deeper dive into the issues.
“But it wasn’t like I was going in cold.”
On a provincial basis the widespread flooding the last week of June was a big issue for the province as it impacted homes, municipalities and farmland.
“It was probably the bad news story of the year,” said Ottenbreit.
And it could have been worse. The impact on agriculture ended up being more localized than first thought, with much of the province still pulling in good average yields.
“Overall it was still a pretty good year for agriculture,” said Ottenbreit.
As for the year ahead, Ottenbreit said it will be one of staying the course in Saskatchewan. He noted the idea of keeping Saskatchewan strong “was the focus of the Throne Speech.”
But staying the course means directing a rather vibrant province, added Ottenbreit,
The population of the province continues to grow, and along with it 70,000 new jobs, he said.
Those jobs are being created based on a varied economy which is no longer reliant on just potash, oil and gas and agriculture, said Ottenbreit.
The vibrancy being enjoyed in the economy is being reflected in Saskatchewan now having the best credit rating possible. Ottenbreit said that may not seem that significant to the average person, but it is a marker companies use when looking at where to establish new enterprises. He said having such a good rating means for business is looking the province’s way. That is something which bodes well for the future, he said.
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