MELFORT — The Northeast’s newest MLA is loving his job so far.
Todd Goudy, the MLA for Melfort, was elected to his position in a March 1 byelection and participated in his first legislative session, held March 12 to May 31.
“It was some of the best experiences of my life so far,” he said. “It was enjoyable.”
The MLA said he’s seeing the people behind the curtain that run the province and is encouraged to see most of them – government and opposition – are there because they want to make a difference, not because it’s a just a job.
“Being a citizen before, watching from the outside, you had your concerns. You wonder, do these people really have my best interest in mind?’” he said. “Now to watch from the inside, it is really encouraging to know that they do have the best interest of the people who live in my constituency in their minds.”
As a new MLA, Goudy said it’s a time for him to learn. For instance, he still has a lot to learn about the rules and traditions that govern the legislature.
“I’ve been out of my desk a few times I wasn’t supposed to. Nobody’s angry at you, but there’s just rules.”
He’s watched cabinet ministers defend themselves in question period, learning the issues the province is facing along the way. The new MLA said he’s also got plenty of mentors to help develop his skills.
“I’ve got 50 people who can teach me and speak into my life and help me mature and understand my role better, so it’s been a real learning experience.”
It also helps, Goudy said, to have the example of former MLA Kevin Phillips to follow and to have former MLA Rod Gantefoer a phone call away.
As the MLA for Melfort, Goudy’s been focusing on securing the CT scanner that was promised by the province back in 2010 for the Melfort Hospital.
“We want to see that become a reality,” the former member of the Melfort Health Advocacy Committee said. “There’s no final decision been made yet, but we’re certainly closer today than we were before.”
Goudy said the big hurdle is securing the money needed for the scanner.
As for the province-wide issues that affect the Melfort constituency, Goudy said the two main ones were stopping a federally-imposed carbon tax, which would harm local farmers, and building a pipeline to the West Coast, meaning that trains that are sending oil can be freed up to ship grain.
Goudy said it was a surprise to hear the federal government has made an offer to buy out the Trans Mountain Pipeline, but the premier will work with the prime minister to the benefit of the people of Saskatchewan.
“Our new reality is the federal government made a decision and whether it was good or bad, time will tell,” he said.
“We want to work together with them to make sure that the pipeline gets built and starts to deliver oil to the coast.”
