As we hit the entry gate into the dog days of summer, thoughts begin to drift toward this fall's provincial general election and the concerns that need to be addressed by both parties well before Nov. 7.
It appears as if the current Sask. Party government is once again destined to run the table, especially in southern Saskatchewan, but that doesn't mean they should get a free pass.
While the NDP's chances of scoring any breakthroughs in this region are remote, that hasn't prevented their leader Dwain Lingenfelter, from making several forays into the enemy camp, leaving a trail of challenges in his wake. So far, the response from the incumbents, has been eerie silence.
Understanding that the province is still in the throes of a summer break, the needs and concerns of the local citizenry are still very real, especially after the floods this spring.
The stage has been neatly set for us. There are several issues that require clarity from the Sask. Party before too long and we begin the list with the long-standing plea from southeast Saskatchewan for a twinned Highway 39.
Lingenfelter came to Estevan and made it clear that if elected, his team would begin the task almost immediately. It was a commitment. Naturally it's easy to make promises when you realize your chances of having to live up to them are remote. After all, campaigns are built on parties promising to do something, maybe a little later on. But the point was made clear on this topic. The NDP were first out of the block on the subject with nothing yet from the other guys.
A long awaited truck route around the Energy City has been dragging along for five or six years now and still hasn't reached a design stage.
A $1.3 million cut in funding the education system in this corner of the province has been greeted with outrage from school board trustees and yawns from the rest of us ... so far. When the results of these cuts become reality, it will be too late. Southeast Saskatchewan is once again being required to play Robin Hood. Are we again being taken for granted?
A hearing, inquiry or some type of public airing regarding the Sask Watershed Authority's handling of the Rafferty and Boundary Dam water flows over the past three years needs to be scheduled soon. Since the minister responsible is hunkered down in the neighbouring constituency, the agenda and schedules should be a no-brainer. But so far ... silence. Perhaps there is the expectation that the events that resulted in tens of millions of dollars in damages will simply go away if left untouched and unexamined. The bureaucrats will be able to hide behind the regulations that require them to remain silenced during a campaign period. The fixed election date allows them to manipulate the timing.
The health file requires an airing out. The rumour mills keep churning regarding major structural changes in the offing, with no response from the governing party. Across the province the opportunities for health team building and cries that we are all in this together, have failed miserably. We hope we'll hear something about this before Nov. 7, not after. But if the topic isn't going to be raised by somebody, you can bet your bottom dollar it won't be kicked up to the top of the campaign agenda by the current government.
There are environmental concerns and a stance to take on cap, tax and trade issues surrounding greenhouse gas emissions.
Housing for those who don't make over $80,000 per annum in southeast Saskatchewan is a huge issue that has been partially addressed by the NDP, and so far ignored by the current government. The NDP are proposing blended rent controls. We don't know what the Sask. Party is proposing.
There are a few more items on the list, but we'll stop here with the expectation that we'll be hearing a lot on these subjects by the candidates and their leaders within the next 30 days.
