Northeast mayors react to Hoback’s re-election, Liberal minority government

“He does listen to our concerns,” Lang told northeastNOW. “And we voiced our concerns to Randy.”

Lang also talked about what the Liberal minority, and Hoback’s re-election means for some of the local issues in Melfort. The big issue that Lang talked about was infrastructure funding from a federal-provincial perspective, mainly when it comes to water line replacement. He said that the city continues to work with Hoback to bring their issues to Ottawa, but the Conservative Member of Parliament is not gaining much ground. Lang said the city has a deficit when it comes to infrastructure and they also need to replace about $17 million worth of water lines.

“Those numbers are big enough that it’s literally impossible to do that by yourself as a community,” Lang said.

He said that with a Liberal government, the program where the federal-provincial funding comes from will remain, but the Liberals have a different priority according to Lang – that being transportation – something that does not apply in Melfort.

Meanwhile, in general, Lang said having a Liberal government makes it more difficult to make headwind on some of their issues, but a minority government could see issues from the west being heard a little bit more. He said the Conservatives may have a bit more of a voice now.

“Potentially, the Prime Minister now has to walk a tighter line,” he said.

Lang added said things are “no worse” than they were with a Liberal majority, but in the long run, the switch to a minority could be good for not only Melfort and area, but all of the west.

“I think that there’s a feeling that the west gets ignored more often than it should,” Lang said. “And so hopefully that’s something that Prime Minister [Justin] Trudeau will take into account with the results of this election, it’s very more apparent than it was last time.”

Nipawin: Municipal government’s voices

Mayor Rennie Harper of Nipawin congratulated Hoback on his re-election. She mentioned he’s been re-elected as Prince Albert’s MP multiple times before she became Nipawin’s mayor, but he’s always been very helpful to the town.

“Randy’s not a stranger to the people in our communities,” Harper said. “People recognize him. He’s very visible, he comes often, he listens well, and if you ask Randy a question or reach out for information he will always answer.

One of the projects in Nipawin that Harper said Hoback had influence in receiving federal funding for was the $20 million plus water treatment. However, she said there aren’t any specific projects in the town for Hoback to champion for in Ottawa, but ensuring municipal governments have a louder voice in the House of Commons.

“We’ve talked a little bit about making sure the municipal voices are more audible in federal government and hoping that perhaps we can do something to help affect that,” she said. “Maybe he will carry the voices of the municipalities from here and make us more visible. I don’t know if that’s possible but it’s one of the things we’ve spoken about.”

Regarding the Liberal minority government, Harper feels the bigger story is the differences of opinion across the country, as told by the colours on the electoral map.

“It sort of leads to worth being needed on behalf of all parties to try to figure out how to work together for the best of everyone in our country,” she said. “That’s what I see when I see this map of differences. The possibility to make some inroads in to figuring out how to work better together for all of the country. I believe Randy Hoback, for all of us, has done a very good job of being visible and answering questions when he’s needed to.”

Tisdale: Western alientation

Mayor Al Jellicoe of Tisdale echoed Harper’s statement of how Hoback has looked after his community as MP of Prince Albert.

“When your MP is with a majority government it’s always a little bit better, but he’s done us well over the last four years like he’s done the previous 10 years,” Jellicoe said. “I’ve been down to Ottawa and Randy does champion the whole area, even with a Liberal government. It all works good.”

Jellicoe mentioned two projects within Tisdale – the regional landfill and sewer lift station and lagoon – have received federal funding during the Liberal government.

On a national scale, Jellicoe believes the Liberal minority government may create some issues.

“I don’t see anything too detrimental with the northeast or Tisdale in particular, but it’s going to be interesting to see what does happen,” he said. “It looks like Saskatchewan will probably be a majority of Conservative candidates just like Alberta. As long as the Liberals don’t alienate the West; I hope that things carry on and we have representation there. I just hope the other side listens.

“It’ll definitely be a different perspective in the West compared to Ontario, the West, and Atlantic Canada.”

All 14 ridings in Saskatchewan elected Conservative MP’s, meaning the Liberals’ one MP – 26-year Regina-Wascana MP and Finance Minister Ralph Goodale – will no longer be in the House of Commons.

Jellicoe doesn’t believe having a Conservative MP in an all Conservative province will have any issues with the Prince Albert riding or the Town of Tisdale being represented federally.

“I think it’s going to be business as usual and Randy is going to look after us for the next for years,” he said.

–

With files from Mat Barrett and Aaron Schulze

melfort-news@jpbg.ca

@northeastNOW_SK

by northeastNOW Staff

Northeast mayors react to Hoback’s re-election, Liberal minority government

Melfort: Concerns about infrastructure funding

Nipawin: Municipal government’s voices

Tisdale: Western alientation

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