P.A. MP prepares for spring session in Parliament

Positive feedback from the riding will also be shared during the session. Hoback said a few notable programs the constituents are happy about are tax cuts, income-splitting and the increase in the child-tax benefits.

Local business community meets for informal discussion

Before federal budget talks kick off, Hoback met with local business owners and officials in a roundtable meeting to discuss the needs and issues facing the business community.

“It was a very interesting exchange of ideas,” said Mitchell Holash of the law firm Holash Logue McCullagh. “An excellent idea to have dialogue with Mr. Hoback as our Member of Parliament, and many members from the business community representing different community agencies that were here and it was a very enlightening and fulsome conversation.”

Speaking about the roundtable discussion, Hoback said that he felt it was quite a positive meeting with a lot of opinions expressed.

“It was just a frank exchange of ideas and suggestions as we move forward and as the budget comes out sometime in the New Year and some of the things that will provide some input into that budget,” said Hoback. “I think one of the underlying themes is the importance of family and recognizing the fact that the typical family in Prince Albert is different than a typical family in Toronto.”

He added that it’s important to make sure that the program is tailored to the needs of this community versus others.

Hoback said that meetings like this often generate ideas because the setting is more relaxed and informal.

“Whenever you can get a group like that together and talk openly and frankly and off the cuff and not worry about saying something silly or stupid, we get some really good ideas out of it, and we move forward with it.”

Hoback said all of the ideas generated from all the discussions he’s had will be brought forward to the spring budget.

Hoback’s impaired driving bill

Besides the agenda items, Hoback has also submitted a private member’s bill that will be going into committee and be under advisement by February or March.

This bill is an attempt to stop the cycle of repeat drunk drivers.

“[I will] hopefully see that go through committee and get into third reading, into the House [of Commons] and hopefully passed by the time the session breaks before the election,” he said.

So far, Hoback has brought his proposed bill to the opposition parties. He said everyone is in agreement that something has to change when it comes to driving under the influence. However, he said discussions continue as to what method will be the most effective.

“At the end of the day I want to see results that … actually have an impact that reduces the number of deaths on the roads and get these repeat offenders of the roads,” said Hoback. “If the opposition members can bring in some positive, constructive, insights into that legislation I’d welcome them and I know our government has some ideas that they’d like to also present in the committee process.”

Gas prices plummet

Since the recent drop in gas prices Hoback said people he knows from across Canada have been travelling more thanks to increased affordability at the pumps.

“I think in some ways it may be a boon because you know people have more disposable income that they would have normally been spending on gas that they’ll have to be able to spend in the community and maybe to do more things with their family,” he said.

There is however a flipside. Hoback said he can’t predict how long gas will remain at its current price and the longer it does the harder it becomes on oil and gas companies.

“We are an oil and gas province and were next to Fort McMurray. So when we see layoffs like Suncor had with the thousand people, that definitely is concerning.”

What’s Hoback’s solution? “We [the government] have to be very prudent with taxpayer’s money; we have to be very responsible and always be very cautious on the economy because the economy is so fragile and has been fragile since 2008,” he said.

Overall, Hoback isn’t worried about the oil and gas industry having a major effect on Saskatchewan’s economy as a whole.

“Saskatchewan’s in a good place, we don’t just have oil and gas. We have potash, we have agriculture, we have a forestry sector that’s recovering … we have the North and the tourism and the mining sector up there with uranium,” he said.

“We have so many strengths that Alberta and other provinces don’t have, so that’s why Saskatchewan has done so well and will continue to do well.”

Election around the corner

As Hoback heads to Ottawa, he knows this is probably the last session before an election.

“That might bring all sorts of interesting curveballs and twists and spins but … the reality is Prime Minister [Stephen] Harper has done a tremendous job and we’ve felt the benefits of having good strong leadership and a good strong government in Ottawa,” he said.

Despite negative opinions about the current leadership, Hoback thinks the election will end well for the Conservatives.

“Whenever you’re in leadership you have some people that like what you say and there are some people that don’t and that’s just the way leadership is,” he said. “I’m very optimistic that [the] Conservative government will return to Ottawa, when you look at what the other parties are offering as far as leadership and as far as programs and policies it’s very disappointing and would take Canada back to the 1960s and Canada doesn’t want to go there,” he said.

The next federal election is currently scheduled for Oct. 19, 2015.

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On Twitter: @princealbertnow

by paNOW Staff

P.A. MP prepares for spring session in Parliament

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