By Taylor MacPherson

Nicole Rancourt reflects on 2017 and the year ahead

Dec 27, 2017 | 1:00 PM

Nicole Rancourt, NDP MLA for Prince Albert Northcote, caught up with paNOW to discuss the biggest provincial issues of 2017, and what she expects in the coming year.

Rancourt said she considers her biggest success to be her ongoing lobbying campaigns to improve Prince Albert for her constituents. The opposition MLA said she presented a petition calling on the province to restore funding for the city’s Mobile Crisis, which would allow the organization to return to 24-hour service, and also petitioned for a second bridge in P.A.

“I’ve been really happy to be the voice for Prince Albert,” she said.

Her biggest challenges in 2017 came after the provincial budget was announced, Rancourt said, when the SaskParty made significant cuts in the face of a major deficit. Rancourt said the budget had “devastating consequences” for both Prince Albert and the province as a whole, which she has witnessed first-hand.

“That’s been the most challenging – seeing individuals struggling with the economy,” she said. “Costs are rising and incomes aren’t, and people are really feeling the impacts of that.”

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Rancourt said the people of Saskatchewan worked hard to pressure the SaskParty into reversing several of the cuts, but noted that cuts to education and other important sectors will remain in 2018.

Rural crime became a hot-button issue in the province in 2017, especially in the Prince Albert area. While addressing crime through enforcement is important, Rancourt said part of the blame for the province’s crime rate lies with the provincial government.

“We have a government that’s cut services to mental health and addictions, and we know that’s playing a big role in the increase in crime,” she said.

One of the biggest changes for the province in 2017 was the amalgamation of the health regions into the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Rancourt said she expects some positives and some negatives to emerge from the amalgamation, but right now it’s still too soon to say what the net benefits will be for Saskatchewan.

“We don’t know exactly yet how that’s going to look,” Rancourt said. “The biggest thing I’ll be paying attention to is ensuring we don’t lose any of our local autonomy when it comes to healthcare.”

Another topic Rancourt will be watching closely in 2018 is the legalization of marijuana, which the federal government has promised to enact on July 1. Rancourt said the federal and provincial governments need to provide clearer direction prior to legalization, but it’s still too early to predict what the effects may be.

The SaskParty and NDP opposition will be heading into the spring session with new leadership. Rancourt, who has endorsed former interim leader Trent Wotherspoon, said 2018 will be an exciting time for the NDP, with lots of new members and a new face at the helm. Regarding outgoing Premier Brad Wall, Rancourt said she would like to see him stay and experience the long-term effects of the latest provincial budget, but noted that retirement is his choice to make.

Heading into 2018, Rancourt said she is looking forward to meeting local leaders and hearing their concerns. Learning from the people of Saskatchewan is her favourite part of the job, she said, and she already has plenty of events and meetings lined up into the New Year.

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paNOW asked all of our local MLAs the same year-end questions. Check back tomorrow, as we catch up with Saskatchewan Rivers MLA Nadine Wilson. To read our year-end interview with Prince Albert Carlton MLA Joe Hargrave, click here.

–With files from Teena Monteleone

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TMacPhersonNews