When Actions Speak Louder than Words

Every day I am humbled and honoured to serve the people of Prince Albert, because every day I have the opportunity to meet and talk with members of our community.  And the one overarching theme that I hear most often is optimism for the future of our city and the province.

All too often negative voices seem to make the papers but negativity did not build our strong province, optimism did.  While there is still more work to do, by partnering with the hardworking people in Prince Albert, we have a stronger, more prosperous, more optimistic community.

One sure sign of this optimism is population growth.  Record numbers of people are coming to Saskatchewan to live, work and raise their families.  This growth reverses years of decline, when the people of Prince Albert would too often see young people move away to find work.

Today Prince Albert is creating new jobs and opportunities.  Optimism in our business community is high.  Thanks to a growing economy, our government has been able to make key investments in areas that previous governments neglected and ignored.  From healthcare to senior’s care, policing and safety, schools and highways, the people of Prince Albert have good reason to be optimistic.

Our government has provided stable, predictable funding for municipalities.  This funding comes with no strings attached, allowing mayors and councils to invest in their own local priorities.  For the City of Prince Albert this has meant over $51 million since 2007, including $7.5 million this year alone.

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In 2011, when Prince Albert was suddenly faced with critical repairs to the Diefenbaker Bridge, your Saskatchewan Party government committed to covering 100 per cent of the $3.9 million repair cost.  We have also committed to providing $3 million in repair funding over the next two years.

When the conversation turned to building a second bridge, our community received a firm commitment from Premier Wall.  In August 2014, he outlined our willingness to work with municipal and federal partners in the building of a second bridge in Prince Albert.  We stand by our commitment to using an innovative P3 funding model that has successfully delivered needed infrastructure in other communities. This commitment builds on our record highway and bridge investments for Prince Albert and area.

Our government has invested in community safety through the development of HUB and COR – a world-class crime prevention model that is now being replicated in communities across North America.  We’ve invested in the expansion of two correctional facilities, and hired nearly 200 more corrections workers.  Our government is also providing funding for 19 municipal police officer positions, part of the more than $13 million our government has invested in community policing in Prince Albert alone.

Our government heard concerns from family members of seniors on fixed incomes.  They thought it was wrong to leave the monthly benefit under the Seniors Income Program unchanged for 16 years.  That’s why our government tripled the maximum amount to its present level.  In Prince Albert our government also took action on the aging Pineview Terrace.  Today, there are 60 beds in the new, expanded facility.

Thanks to you, students and families in Prince Albert are enjoying the new St. Anne’s School and the expansion of the Carlton Gymnasium.

And thanks to a growing province, people who want to participate in a strong and diversified economy are taking skills training to do so.  Our government has reduced barriers by virtually eliminating the wait list for Adult Basic Education. There are also increased apprenticeship training seats, many of which are available at Prince Albert post–secondary institutions.

Are these investments making a difference?

Employment statistics for Prince Albert (July-Dec 2015), have shown us to have approximately 1,000 new jobs compared to last year during that time.  The collective voice and optimism of hardworking people in Prince Albert can be seen in tangible results in every sector of our city.

Yes, there remains more work to do, but don’t let anyone tell you that Prince Albert doesn’t have a voice. Actions speak louder than words.

It is your voice that guides us. I ask that you continue to write, phone, e-mail or visit my office to provide your insights and suggestions. It is through these discussions that we can work with Saskatchewan people to keep Saskatchewan strong. 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.