From Many People’s Strength

As another year comes to a close, I am encouraged to see continued confidence and steady growth that help to bring benefits to our local community and province.  Our government is committed to the renewal of Victoria Hospital and is willing to partner with both the City and the Government of Canada to fund a second river crossing.  We’re investing in and helping to build hundreds of new housing units and we recently celebrated the completion of the new Pineview Terrace.

Prince Albert now receives a greater share of predictable funding from the province; unconditional dollars that help meet challenges that are unique to our community.  Our city is also safer than it was before thanks in part to the Community Mobilization Partnership. Crime rates have decreased and the initiative is being implemented across the province.

Just recently, we learned that Saskatchewan’s population is closing in on 1,130,000 – growth of nearly 20,000 people per year since 2007.  This is thanks to our people, their hard work and determination.  While the steady growth Saskatchewan is experiencing creates both opportunities and challenges, we far prefer the challenges of growth to that of decline.

Continued tax relief for individuals and families, as well as ongoing investments in infrastructure, will help us meet these challenges and keep Saskatchewan strong and moving forward.  Despite recent volatility in the price of oil, we remain on track to deliver yet another balanced budget.  This is in part thanks to a diverse economy and sound fiscal management. 

I am proud to say that, for the first time in a generation, many of our young people are staying in Saskatchewan and Prince Albert to further their education and start their careers.  Our government is doing its part to encourage that in a number of ways.  For example, every high school grad who attends a post-secondary institution in Saskatchewan can now receive $500 per year to a maximum of $2,000 as part of the Saskatchewan Advantage Scholarship. 

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Since 2007, over 50,000 post-secondary grads have also taken advantage of the Graduate Retention Program; tuition rebates of up to $20,000 for graduates who remain in Saskatchewan.  Parents, grandparents and caregivers have also started saving more each year in order to receive matching dollars under the new Saskatchewan Advantage Grant for Education Savings.

SaskCareers.ca, Saskatchewan’s new career development website, is a great new tool to help students learn about the growing number of opportunities in Saskatchewan.  It is designed to connect them with employers for in-demand careers and to help educate, train and develop a highly-skilled workforce, which is a key goal of the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth.

This fall, our government received and endorsed a Mental Health and Addictions Action Plan for Saskatchewan.  We are also working to develop a Poverty Reduction Strategy. I also encourage everyone to take advantage of the programs and services we’ve already introduced, including those that make life more affordable for seniors and those who are living with disabilities.

While we’ve accomplished a lot, my colleagues and I are always mindful that our work to improve the quality of life everyone is never finished.  That’s why we’ll continue to invest in the things that make a real difference in the day-to-day lives of people.

Today, Saskatchewan is stronger today than perhaps it has ever been.  Drawing on the strengths of our people we are realizing record growth and opportunities that, not long ago, we only dreamed of.  Working together we can keep Saskatchewan strong.

Your voice matters. I want to know what is important to you and would like to hear your thoughts and ideas to keep our province moving forward in a way that is a benefit to all Saskatchewan residents.  Please feel free to contact me or drop by my constituency office.

May you have a peaceful and prosperous New Year.

Prince Albert Northcote constituents are always welcome to contact me.  Call 306-922-4220, visit my website at http://mlajurgens.ca or email mlajurgens@sasktel.net. My office is located at 5A 598 15 St. East across from Superstore