This is a time of financial restraint for the provincial government, but curiously they came through with their share of funding for Weyburn’s long-awaited infrastructure project, the new water reservoir project worth $15.9 million.
What they cut, however, was the sheriff’s position and the Queen’s Bench Court office, both from the Weyburn Courthouse. Provincial court will continue to be held there, but now Queen’s Bench trials will be held in Regina or Estevan instead of here.
This raises concerns on a number of levels, chief among which is about the future of this city’s historic Courthouse, which the province just recently spent a rather significant amount of money and time for renovations, both to the building and to the grounds.
This is a landmark building in Weyburn, thus it was an excellent move by the government to make the upgrades and maintain the beauty and integrity of the Courthouse — but one has to wonder if, when a vital part of the court services are removed, how much longer will it in fact be used for its intended purpose?
Several years ago, when Brenda Bakken was in Opposition (just before she went on to be elected as MLA), the Courthouse was going to be closed altogether, and she led the fight to keep it open. Thus it is ironic that it is her party (now under Premier Brad Wall) that is making this move now as they tighten belts.
Cuts here and there to budgetary expenses is to be expected when times are tight, as they are currently in Saskatchewan’s economy, but the miniscule amount to be saved by removing Court of Queen’s Bench from this Courthouse isn’t going to help that deficit very much.
In regard to the major announcement regarding the city’s reservoir project, one that the City has been waiting for a very long time, they were able to come up with their share of the funding, about $5.3 million, to enable it to finally go ahead. Considering that this was a major project of the former council, the timing is curious, coming out right after the civic election in which only three incumbent members of council were re-elected.
The project is indeed a need for the City of Weyburn to help enable any future growth if and when the economy makes a recovery. If the government was afraid that it might affect the outcome of the election, then why wasn’t the funding made available earlier, when the city needed it so they could begin work on the project? At least now it can proceed as it was meant to. — Greg Nikkel
