February 2023
Celebrating Over 25 Years of Service to Our Communities!
Dawson Trail Dispatch
Piney Pleased with Stuartburn Partnership By Dan Guetre As the RM of Piney assumed a greater administrative role in the operation of the Piney Stuartburn Economic Development and Tourism Board (PSED Board), a partnership formed between the two municipalities to pool resources, according to Piney CAO Martin Van Osch, a joint financial fund just made sense. “Creating a reserve fund to manage funds for future economic or tourism development is a good management strategy which helps the municipalities prepare, develop and implement projects with the least amount of tax impact to the ratepayers of the municipalities,” explained Van Osch. “Annually, the PSED Board can decide to set funds aside in the reserve for future projects.” With the oversight of both Piney and Stuartburn Councils, the PSED Board will determine the amount of funding to be transferred to the reserve. Van Osch stressed the PSED Board has a great deal of autonomy over the direction, investment and implementation of economic development and tourism development within the two municipalities. The reserve fund gives the board flexibility to respond to new opportunities as they arise. “By utilizing a key partnership between the RMs of Piney and Stuartburn, the municipalities are able to support and grow opportunities within the region which would have been very difficult to achieve as individual municipalities,” added Van Osch. Van Osch noted there are many projects which will benefit from the reserve fund.
“Currently some of the money in the reserve is earmarked as matching funds for a provincial Building Sustainable Communities grant for an Investment Readiness Assessment and Business Attraction Strategy Project being undertaken by Sunrise Corner Economic Development,” he elaborated. “Our focus has always been on the balance between building sustainable communities and maintaining the wonderful quality of life we all love.” Attracting the right kind of development is also important said Van Osch. “Other projects include marketing plans for Sunrise Corner or the further development of tourism attractions within the region,” he continued. “Some of these projects are underway and others are potential projects into the future.” Van Osch wanted to point out that “The Investment Readiness Assessment and Business Attraction Strategy Project” is currently in the research phase. An online survey will be launched on February 1 to obtain input from residents in the RMs of Piney and Stuartburn on how they see development progressing in the region. Additionally, in early March, they “will host in-person community consultations to further delve into the kinds of development we would like in our region.” “As always, our focus will be on the balance between building sustainable communities and maintaining the wonderful quality of life we all love here in Sunrise Corner,” he concluded.
Honouring Provencher’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medallion Recipients I was honoured to host a special awards ceremony for the recipients of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medallion. On February 6th of 2022, Queen Elizabeth II became the only British/Canadian Monarch to reach the milestone of seven decades on the throne. While the official national decoration created for this occasion was a lapel badge, Canadian Provinces and Members of Parliament also had the opportunity to create their own Royal commemorative medals to mark Her Majesty’s seventy years of selfless service to Her people. Many nominations came in and 50 worthy individuals were selected to receive the honour. In our riding, the eligibility and criteria for these badges and medallions was simple: Who has
made an exceptional contribution to our community? Like Queen Elizabeth, who are those individuals who have devoted their lives to service? Those honoured have lived lives of exemplary community and public service, and whose longevity of service is also noteworthy. Those honoured spanned generations, diverse fields of work and study, and political affiliation and preference. Each one is an example of what ordinary citizens can do when they seek to serve others. What is, perhaps, most extraordinary of all is the fact that most, like Elizabeth, would not consider their achievements to be extraordinary. (And I think true service can only take place when that level of humility is present). I suspect many of those who were
honoured would have preferred we didn’t “make a fuss”, but we wanted to recognize the achievements, the selfless generosity, and the personal toll it takes on individuals and their families. Whether it be jumping out of bed at three in the morning to rush to put out a fire, to caring for the poor and sick, to serving in public office, all take a toll and all are worthy of recognition. It was a privilege to honour these individuals and their service to Provencher.
Re-inventing A Political Focus By Monica Guetre
No matter how hard you squeeze, getting water form a stone is next to impossible depending on the type of stone you’re squeezing. However, this is what it feels like both the provincial and federal governments are doing to 98% of Canadians. In my opinion hardest hit are our young adults who are trying to pay rent, buy groceries, and paying to further their education (let alone saving money to buy a house, plan a family or put aside a retirement fund). Additionally, our seniors are struggling to live off old age pensions and the middle income households are taxed heavily to prop up government budgets. So just about everybody is feeling more than a pinch. Living pay cheque to pay cheque is akin to running on a hamster wheel that many of us can’t get off for a very long time without serious targeted action. And depending on where you live, such as living in the north and rural Canada, you’re getting
hit much harder. Yup we are all tired of political inaction and lack of foresight. Food Banks Canada reports that 45.4% of food bank users in Canada are single adult households, while only representing 29.3% of the population and seniors who represent 8.9% of Canadian food bank users, have a rate of increase far outpacing other age groups. Statistics Canada in its November 2022 price index reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 6.8% year over year in November, following a 6.9% increase in October. Prices for food rose 11.4% year over year in November, following an 11.0% gain in October. The cost of groceries rose at a faster rate than the all-items CPI every month since December 2021. The cost of a roof over our heads rose 7.2% at a faster pace year over year. Minimum wage in Manitoba is currently at $13.50. It’s set to rise on April 1 to $14.15/hour. The next planned provincial increase is not until October but even that is not set in stone since the rise in minimum wage depends on increases in the consumer price index (cost of living). Right now, the best estimate is that on October 1 minimum wage will increase to $15. That means this October a minimum wage earner’s take home gross pay will be $31,200 assuming a 40 hour work week. Now deduct approximately 15% for provin-
cial and federal taxes. A minimum wage earner in Manitoba has about $26,520 left to pay for a roof over their head, buy food, and put gas in their car. Living anywhere in rural Manitoba means that the basics just to survive like the cost housing or food is more expensive. Here’s a solution that both levels of government can tackle. First target one thing from everyone’s household or business budget to reduce or eliminate. How about the cost of heating a home or business? Decide that you will make a monumental effort over the next 10 years, to incentivize building an energy infrastructure that is capable of heating our homes and business then feeds excess back into our electrical grid. Get aggressive when creating this program and making it affordable to everyone, not solely dependant on their income levels. The key goal is to lower everyone’s monthly energy costs. This program would target one of many identifiable costs the in the mainstream household or business budget. As a government, it can easily identify the balance of the “mainstream” expenses the majority of people face every month. Their focus could be on reducing the cost of living targeting these mainstream costs. And fine-tune these programs to be as inclusive as possible not restricted by age or income.