By Northcote Voice

Supporting Saskatchewan’s Growth

Nov 2, 2013 | 9:24 AM

It was recently my pleasure to participate in a major milestone in support of Saskatchewan’s growth.  

The last section of twinned lanes on the busy Highway 11 corridor between Saskatoon and Prince Albert are now officially open to traffic.

In 2009, our Saskatchewan Party government made this project a priority and, in partnership with the Government of Canada, committed to twin the last 75 kilometre section.  Every day, Highway 11 carries as many as 20,000 vehicles on a stretch just south of the Corman Park Industrial access north of Saskatoon.  

The average overall traffic count for Highway 11 between its junction with Highway 2 south of Prince Albert and Saskatoon is up an estimated 33 per cent over the past five years and it brings me great pride to see this completed. In addition to the much-needed completion of this project, I am also pleased to say that it came in under budget, saving the province over $12 million.

Meeting the challenges of growth was the focus of our government’s Throne Speech October 23rd.  This speech serves as a road map for our government going forward and reflects many of the priorities identified through consultation with constituents.

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 Some of these include highways, healthcare, housing and education. In healthcare, initiatives include a seniors house call program involving physicians, nurse practitioners and other health care providers, new pilot programs to take pressure off emergency rooms by providing more appropriate services to assist high-risk, high-use patients who repeatedly show up in emergency rooms and amendments to The Personal Care Homes Act to allow for the public disclosure of inspection reports.

In terms of housing, it is a priority of our government to encourage the construction of rental properties through expansion of the HeadStart on a Home program as well a new Life Lease Program through Saskatchewan Housing Corporation to improve housing options for seniors.

In the classroom, our government is making improvements to internet speed and access in all schools through SaskTel’s CommunityNet program and the reduction of tuition costs through the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship.  

Further, we have a plan to add 1,000 new training seats, including 300 new apprenticeship seats and 700 new Adult Basic Education seats to bring the total number of ABE seats to 8,580 – a 46 per cent increase since 2007.  We also look forward to the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology becoming a polytechnic institution.  

Other Initiatives include:
New measures to improve traffic safety and reduce fatalities, with a particular focus on tougher penalties for drinking and driving;
Increase supports for recipients of Saskatchewan Assured Income for Disability, the third regular increase over the last four years;
A new Lobbyists Act that will make public the lobbying activities of corporations and paid lobbyists. New anti-bullying measures;
A new Manufacturing Centre of Excellence Our government continues to look to the future and ensure that all Saskatchewan residents benefit from our natural resources and the decisions we make today.  

Unlike previous governments, who saddled the province with burdensome debt, Saskatchewan’s strong economy has given our government the ability to pay down that debt and meet the challenges of growth head-on.

Prince Albert Northcote constituents are always welcome to contact my office by calling 306-922-4220. You may also visit my website at http://mlajurgens.ca or email mlajurgens@sasktel.net.

Our office is located at 5A 598 15th St East across from Superstore. (Photo: “Painting the Last Line”.  Left to right are MLA Victoria Jurgens, MP Randy Hoback, MLA Darryl Hickie and MLA Delbert Kirsch.)