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Year in Review: Randy Hoback reflects on 2018

Dec 21, 2018 | 10:35 AM

As 2018 draws to a close, paNOW is taking a look back on the most important and impactful stories of the year, as selected by our reporters and editorial staff.

There are some big economic challenges ahead according to MP Randy Hoback.

“We’re heading into recession,” he said.

Specifically, the Conservative Party MP said he sees challenges coming for the forestry sector along with industries involved in manufacturing.

Looking at the manufacturing sector in particular, Hoback argued the changes brought on by the disruption of previous trade agreements which occurred in 2018 are still having an effect going into next year.

“To have the aluminum and steel tariffs still there and the counter tariffs … on steel and aluminum that our manufacturers have to pay,” he said.

He added one local business has had to lay people off due to the negative effects of the tariffs.  

Besides some specific economic challenges, Hoback said some municipalities in the riding are facing some issues regarding their infrastructure needs and access to funding, which he said they’re not getting.

Overall the local MP said many of the people he has been talking to are upset about how things have been going and have some serious concerns.

“We’ve got a lot of people that are really worried about their future,” he said.

However, while he sees the Prince Albert area facing a number of challenges going into the future, Hoback added there are some positive moves happening for the area.

“We’re seeing some activity out in the diamond mine, there’s some new enthusiasm there,” he said.

Along with the prospect of a new diamond mine, Hoback is optimistic that a crucial economic driver for Prince Albert will return to operation sometime in the future.  

“I am still hopeful that we’ll see that pulp mill start up again in the future,” he said.

In the new year, voters will be heading to the polls to vote on who to send to Ottawa. Hoback has secured the nomination for the riding and is looking to increase his share of the popular vote from the last election, which fell to just below 50 per cent.

“If I have anything to do with it, we’ll be back up over 60 per cent,” he said.

Hoback stressed while it is his name on the ballot, he feels it is him and his whole staff standing for re-election.

When taking another look back at the past year, the long-time MP added a personal experience reminded him of the importance of some bigger issues.

“You know, I [saw] a good colleague and friend of mine, Gord Brown, pass away this year, you know, heart attack, you know those are the things you look at and say ‘Holy cow, you know, we can’t take [anything] for granted,” he said.
 

MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn