Deputy Leader of the NDP and finance, economy and government relations critic Trent Wotherspoon was recently in Yorkton to discuss what the issues are for the city and the region with the Mayor and City Council.
Wotherspoon says that one of the main problems cities are facing, including Yorkton, is the pressures of growth. With those pressures there needs to be provincial support to allow cities to grow and remain up to date into the future.
"A lot of the financial strains and pressures are placed on the municipalities, that have to renew and replace the old infrastructure and also grow and expand their communities by servicing new lots. Right now there's not any dedicated funding for infrastructure in the province, and there's not a partnership program in place, so that's something we've been advocating as the NDP and something I heard here today that's really important," Wotherspoon says.
Another thing he sees as necessary is a commitment to a timeline for a new hospital in the city. He says that with the building reaching the end of its lifespan, which means that there needs to be certainty on what the next steps for the facility will be. He says that the government needs to be working directly with the health region and community to set down some timelines and commitments to make sure that the new facility can be delivered soon and meet the needs of the region well into the future. He also says that with the NDP's current platform emphasizing senior's issues, a new regional health centre is a key part of this region's senior care.
"These are the kinds of investments that we need to be making now. This is about smart growth and responsible growth, and as New Democrats this is the kind of investment that we see as being important."
Education is another area where the NDP has placed its focus, and Wotherspoon says that there needs to be more funding for education, especially for services like educational assistants. He says that with growing enrollment, attention needs to be focused on funding and class sizes, to ensure these new students can get the education they need.
This area does have a bright spot in education, he says, and that's the recently announced Parkland College Trades and Technology Centre. Wotherspoon says that the new facility is something his party has supported for a long time, because it is an important step towards filling a deficit in skills training around the province.
He says that the NDP will continue to focus on their priorities of improving senior's care, education and government accountability into the future. This stop was part of an overall summer tour to see what is important across the province, and it has emphasized the need to ensure provincial government support of growing municipalities.
