Provincial Cull Animal Program Announced

The provincial government made a positive announcment this week with news of the $17.5 million Saskatchewan Cull Animal Program to help producers affected by BSE.  The program will provide payments of $128 per eligible beef.  Payments will be based on 8 percent of a producer’s beef breeding herd as of September 1^st, 2003 including all animals over 30 months of age.  Program registration forms will be available from local rural service centre offices and RM offices.  The application deadline is January 31^st, 2004.  Also starting December 17^th, producers will be able to phone the Saskatchewan Cull Animal Program Hotline at 1-866-621-3224 for further program details. 

Local Health Care Issues

Shortly after the November 5^th provincial election, I wrote to Health Minister John Nilson to confirm the government’s intention to proceed with its share of funding for our new regional hospital.  There is no reason to believe that this is not the case and since that time, regional officials have apparently received assurances from the Minister that the funding is forthcoming. 

What is less clear is if the NDP government will respond to our request that Swift Current receive one of the two new permanent CT scan units announced in its last budget as opposed to the permanent installation of the used unit that has been shared between our district and Moose Jaw for the last number of years.

I have not yet received a response to my letter but will report to you when I do.

Wide Open Future or Wide Open Wallets?

There were some alarming revelations about the government’s “Our Future is Wide Open” campaign recently.  First, the government has admitted the campaign is already $600,000 over budget.  Second, the crown corporations have funded about $2.6 million of the feel-good advertising scheme so far. – a fact that was not disclosed at the beginning of the campaign.  The reason according to Crowns Minister Pat Atkinson was that the Industry Department (which was responsible for funding the campaign) ran out of money, so they simply went and got it from the crowns!  It’s rather shocking that our utility bills are being used to fund such a campaign.  One of the major roles of the Legislature and all MLA’s is to approve the budget for the province, but if this NDP government simply decrees that shortfalls in their budgeting will be covered by crowns, our democratic process is completely undermined.

The Premier also admitted last week that the Wide Open Future campaign was not necessarily about economic development but rather about small “p” politics.  I guess this explains why most of the advertising was shown in Saskatchewan instead of promoting our province across Canada.  We believe it is important for Saskatchewan to be promoted and that there is a role for government to do this.  Sadly, the NDP’s admission that this was more about the election than economic development and their attempts to hide the funding sources for now over-budget campaign will leave people with a very bad taste in their mouths.

New Critic Duties

Last week, our Leader Elwin Hermanson shuffled the critic areas for the new 28-member Opposition caucus.  I have been asked to take over the duties of Finance Critic and as such I will also chair the only Legislative Committee that is chaired by an Opposition Member, the Public Accounts Committee.  This committee is established to provide detailed scrutiny of finances.

I am grateful for the new assignment and very aware of the huge shoes I have to fill.  Our previous Finance Critic, Canora-Pelly MLA Ken Krawetz, has done an excellent job in that capacity and I will be seeking his advice and input.

This is a particularly sensitive area of government with the recent release of the province’s mid-term financial report and the revelation that the NDP government is on pace to incur a deficit of approximately $477 million this fiscal year.  Despite being handed a near half billion-dollar surplus by former Premier Romanow, the Calvert government has posted successive deficit budgets and has increased our debt by approximately $1.5 billion.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

I was very grateful to get my job back as MLA for another term.  The 28 days of a general election is quite a long job interview but it was informative and enjoyable to talk to so many constituents.  It remains an honour and a privilege to serve my hometown and the surrounding area and our priority remains you – the constituent.  You are our employer and customer and we will work hard to keep that top of mind in the months and years to come.

On behalf of Tami, myself and our children, Megan, Colter and Faith please accept our wishes for a very Merry and blessed Christmas and a wonderful 2004!

My email address is bradwall@sasktel.net  Our website is www.bradwall.com