April 14, 2022

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Livin’ Large On Saturday, April 9th, Good Times Recreation in Martensville hosted the first annual ATV/UTV Show & Shine.

See more on page 2.

Jocelyn Ottenbreit/MM

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Page 2 - APRIL 14, 2022 - MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER Box 970 37 Centennial Dr. S. Martensville, SK SOK 2TO Phone:(306) 931-2166

Visit www.martensville.ca for more information

Civic Services Under the Lifting of the Public Health Order - What You Should Know!

Saskatchewan’s current public health orders have been lifted, effective February 28, 2022.

City Hall and all civic facilities are open and available for business with the public. Civic facilities are a ‘mask-friendly’ environment, meaning the City of Martensville respects all individuals’ freedom to don a mask for their own comfort and safety.

Martensville Athletic Pavilion - Opened, including drop-in programs. Contact the MAP or Martensville.ca for information or questions about programs.

Please do not visit City Hall or public facilities if you are feeling unwell, experiencing flulike symptoms, or have been in contact with someone who is presumptive or tested positive for COVID-19.

After Hour Water and Sewer Emergencies- should still be directed through the Emergency line at City Hall, (306) 931-2166, ext.1.

Questions about Facilities or Programs? City Staff are available to work with the public via phone or email. Questions or inquiries can be directed to City Hall via phone (306931-2166) or inquiry@martensville.ca OR the Martensville Athletic Pavilion (306-6835576) or mapreception@martensville.ca.

Street Sweeping Season

Street Sweeping will be underway in the community with the emphasis on an initial sweep and a focus on the arterial and collector roadways.

Sweeping will commence in residential areas so please watch for signs and posts in your neighbourhood. We ask that vehicles be removed from the streets on your ‘sweep’ day however tickets will not be issued, nor vehicles towed away.

Friendly reminder to please stay back from Street Sweeping equipment as crews work. For more information about street sweeping contact City Hall.

The Martensville Business Expo is Back!

The Martensville Business Expo is April 29th from 5-8 PM and Saturday, April 30th from 10 AM-4 PM. Reconnect with the businesses and organizations in our community!

There will be delicious food, great drinks, interactive booths, sales and local entertainment all Expo long!

The Martensville Kinsmen are providing breakfast on Saturday from 8-10 AM and it is by donation!

Admission to the Expo is $2, watch for updates in the coming weeks on the weekend’s activities.

To Register, your business for a booth, contact the Prairie Sky Chamber of Commerce.

Lane Usage During Spring Thaw

The City of Martensville encourages residents, for which their lane is a secondary means of access to their property, to limit their usage during the spring thaw period. Heavy or repetitive vehicle usage during spring thaw and wet conditions can cause further rutting and reduce drainage. This limits the ability of crews to conduct maintenance on the lanes in a timely manner and increases time required to reshape lanes.

For questions or further information please contact Public Works at 931-2166.

More tips for Spring Thaw can be found on Martensville.ca under ‘Services for Residents’.

First Annual ATV/UTV Show & Shine a Success

On Saturday, April 9th, Daryl Brandrick, the owner/operator of both Checkered Flag Automotive and Good Times Recreation in Martensville, was proud to host the first annual Good Times Recreation ATV/UTV Show & Shine.

This event featured local suppliers, as well as some of the most impressive icons in the ATV world and brought out a large variety of local residents who were excited to check things out.

Initially, Brandrick thought it would be a small event that featured himself, along with a few friends; however, news spread and the event grew to feature a variety of different machines, various ATV Clubs, a social media announcer, and some big names from the ATV industry that were available for autographs.

For more information on Good Times Recreation, you can visit goodtimesrecreation.com or atvrepair.ca or find them on social media.

April and May 2022 Council Meeting Dates Please Note: Council Meetings may be attended in-person but guests must wear a mask and should practice social distancing within Council Chambers. Those still wishing to attend but would wish to do so virtually should contact the City Clerk or visit the online agenda for the link to attend.

Regular Council Meeting- April 19th Regular Council Meeting- May 3rd Committee of the Whole Meeting- May 10th Regular Council Meeting- May 17th The Regular Council Meetings are located at Martensville City Hall Council Chambers in Martensville City Hall at 37 Centennial Dr. S. All meetings commence at 5 PM. Those wishing to address or do a presentation to Council must be placed on the agenda. To be placed on the agenda please contact the City Clerk’s office at City Hall or visit the website for details.

City of Martensville City Hall

of Operation: The full Council and Committee of the WholeHours Schedule can be obtained at martensville.ca.

Monday to Friday

Big Changes Coming fortoWater 9:00 AM 5:00 PMMeters

The City of Martensville is initiating a(Excluding program where existing Holidays) water meters will be replaced Statutory with new automated water meters. Neptune Technology Group will be installing the meters by area and will be contacting homeowners to make appointments for the change-out.

This project will begin in late February and be completed city-wide by July. To learn more, please check the information piece with your water bill or visit martensville.ca

POLICE

BEAT

Warman RCMP Investigating Fatal Collision on Highway 12

Following a fatal collision on Highway 12 that took place on April 9th at approximately 9:45pm, Warman RCMP and a Saskatchewan RCMP Collision Reconstructionist performed an investigation into this matter.

Their investigation has determined that a Warman RCMP officer observed a Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV driving erratically southbound on Highway #12. The RCMP officer engaged their emergency lights to stop the Jeep, which kept driving at a high rate of speed. The officer lost sight of the vehicle and continued to drive in the direction it headed.

When the officer located the Jeep, it had collided with a northbound Toyota SUV. The Jeep was driving on the wrong side of the highway when the collision occurred.

The driver of the vehicle, a 30-year-old pregnant female from Warman, was declared deceased at the scene. Her passenger was taken to hospital with injuries that were described as non-life-threatening.

The driver of the Jeep was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

There is no update on his condition or identity.

The investigation is complex and ongoing. No charges have been laid and no further details can be provided at this time.

Saskatoon Police Warn of Fraud Targeting Businesses

The Saskatoon Police Service Economic Crime Section has received multiple files in recent weeks of scams targeting the night time staff of Saskatoon retail stores and businesses.

The scammers call the night staff/management and convince them that their store manager has authorized a shipment or payment of some sort, and that payment is urgently required. The scammers may claim to be calling from corporate headquarters and threaten that the store will be closed down if payment isn’t urgently made. Payment is requested via gift cards or Bitcoin.

The SPS would like to remind Saskatoon businesses that all staff should confirm any authorizations for payments with their manager and payments requested via gift cards or cryptocurrency are most likely a scam.

ABOVE & LEFT: The first ever Good Times Recreation ATV/UTV Show and Shine was held on Saturday, April 9th in Martensville. (Jocelyn Ottenbreit/MM)

MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER - APRIL 14, 2022 - Page 3

Martensville Collective Health and Wellness Looks for Community Support to Help Bring Awareness of Doctor Shortage Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

For the past eight years, Dr. Allison Adamus of Martensville Collective Health and Wellness (MCHW) has been advocating to help bring more doctors and health services to the community.

One of the biggest challenges for this is regarding the Return of Service (ROS) agreements that allow doctors to complete their residency training requirements within rural and remote communities, which both Martensville and Warman, along with other communities in the province are excluded from due to their proximity to larger cities.

Back in 2016, Adamus was under the impression that this had been changed and Martensville and Warman would be included within the Return of Service agreements based on a letter received from the province stating changes were being made; however, in 2020, Adamus learned that Martensville had only been removed from two of the seven lists and the community was still unable to access the same options to recruit doctors as other municipalities within the province.

“Once we learned that, it explained why we weren’t getting the doctors from that change that we thought we would have. At the time, we had a doctor interested in serving this region; but they were unable to due to the Return of Service agreements,” said Adamus.

For Adamus, the biggest struggle has been making Martensville stand out and be a desirable location for physicians. “We are trying to give people a reason to come here when the competition is so strong with physicians everywhere,” Adamus said.

Currently there are five doctors at MCHW; however, by the end of May, that number will decrease to three. Due to the lack of doctors within the community, MCHW has been forced to limit some of the services offered, including their walk-in options. “Our focus has always been to provide primary care and we must focus on the big picture. We can’t continue to offer four nights and one day a week and still be able to provide the same level of care to our patients.”

The inability to bring doctors to Martensville isn’t due to a lack of need, but according to Adamus, due to the challenge of a competitive market for doctors. “We are a unique community, and we need unique solutions in order to do that.”

One solution would be for changes to be made to the ROS, but Adamus believes there are other options that could help to recruit more doctors, such as increasing other health services available in the community, which would ease some of the burden from physicians. “One of the biggest struggles is mental health, which impacts all of us, but when there aren’t acceptable mental health services, a lot of the time, that then falls on the doctors.

It’s not that we don’t want to do it, or can’t do it, but it takes an enormous amount of our time, whereas if a patient can access that service elsewhere, it frees up our time to do more.”

Another option would be to have incentives in place. Adamus expressed her desire to have the City of Martensville contribute more to the cause.

“I do think that the City needs to think outside of the box a little bit. What has been taking place isn’t working, so new ideas are needed,” Adamus said.

One of those ideas came from Adamus’ research on what other communities with the same challenges have done. “One thing that I found interesting in other communities is that the community itself owns the

M

facility and then the doctors work for the community in that facility. It takes the burden of owning the business off the physicians so they can focus on seeing patients and reduces the overhead. It is then a publicly owned business and is more appealing to physicians that don’t have the capita to open a clinic of their own.”

There are ways that the public can help in this struggle. One of which is to contact the Minister of Rural and Remote Health, Everett Hindley, at everettmla@ sasktel.net and send a personal story about how existing physician services have positively impacted you and your family, what the loss of such services would mean to you and your family, and/or how your family is impacted by inadequate numbers of physicians in your community.

Another option for community members to get involved would be a similar setup as the Martensville Community Recreation Project, where a group of people came together to bring awareness to the need for a new recreation facility in the community. “Something like that could really help this situation as well, but its just not something that I have the time to do and not something anyone else has taken initiative on.”

“I have been so impressed with our community and how they have stepped up. It has been the most incredible community to work with and work for and it is the reason I keep working so hard because the people are absolute gems and they keep me going, ”Adamus explained.

In May of 2018, Martensville City Council discussed Physician Recruitment Opportunities that could help bring doctors to the community. At this time, two new doctors were coming to MCHW and prior to their move to Martensville, they met with City representatives and created an incentive plan between the two doctors that equaled $20,000; however, Adamus noted that this was not enough to make Martensville a desirable location to remain.

For Dillon Shewchuk, Martensville’s Community Economic Development Manager, the biggest thing that the City of Martensville has been doing to help bring awareness to this issue is constant advocacy for the better part of ten years. “We are all frustrated. We are in an odd spot because in a way, we are competing directly against the province. A lot of family medical residents have Return of Service contracts that explicitly exclude communities like Martensville and Warman. They can’t come here even if they wanted to. We could provide an incentive to get someone in, but we are competing against a public system,” Shewchuk explained.

He continued to note that there are limitations on what the City can directly invest into, stating that even if the City were to invest and put millions of dollars into a facility, there would still be the struggle to recruit doctors.

Similar to Adamus, Mayor Kent Muench has spent many years facing the same challenges throughout the entire duration of his political career in Martensville, both as Councilor and as Mayor.

“Health services has been the biggest challenge, bar none,” Muench said. “As a

ARTENSVILLE

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Government Ministry, it is just so large and there are so many working pieces to the puzzle.”

Muench noted the ambulance service that recently began in Martensville was a lengthy process to get running. Approximately two years ago, the province announced that there would be money in the budget to improve ambulance service in rural communities; however, it wasn’t until late last year that an ambulance began being stationed in Martensville at the Fire Hall, and just this week, at the April 12th Committee of the Whole meeting, Council discussed the proposal for an ambulance station to be constructed on Centennial Drive North.

“It took a long time, even though there was already a commitment from the province. In this region, between Martensville, Warman, Osler and the RM, there are nearly 30,000 people, and that is still what it took,” Muench stated. “In terms of services like ambulances, labs, and imaging, many of those pieces are all provided through the public side of things. We couldn’t just open a lab in Martensville. It is a provincial responsibility.”

Part of the challenge for Martensville is that MCHW is a private clinic and that creates some foggy areas. “We have other health services in the community like dentists, massage, chiropractors etc. and we are dealing with tax-payer dollars to a private business. How do we determine where this money goes and what if another private clinic comes in, and then a large company opens a clinic?

Do they still get the money from taxpayers?”

Muench also expressed that Council has support for all businesses in the community, which is why they created the Economic Development Tax Incentive Program, which can give businesses up to a 5-year tax abatement at no direct cost to taxpayer dollars.

“As Council, we said we would support things like incentive programs, but the issue is we can do that, but at the end of the contract, the doctors leave because they weren’t actually invested in the community. We have been making small gains such as with the ambulance service, and we have Public Health leasing a space within the Civic Centre, but there is so much more to be done.”

What is really telling is that we have an amazing family doctor in Martensville that owns the clinic, and she can’t retain doctors. Clearly, there is a problem here and we will continue working towards solving this problem,” Muench added.

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Page 4 - APRIL 14, 2022 - MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER

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KEEPING YOU SAFE & ON THE ROAD

SPORTS Martensville Hockey Seeking Coaches for 2022/23 Season

Martensville Minor Hockey will be accepting applications for multiple head coach positions within their U13, U15 and U18 AA programs for the 2022-23 season.

One position is available within each of the Bantam AA and Midget AA programs, and requirements include, but are not limited to: -

Strong hockey background in coaching, playing and evaluating.

Experience coaching AA hockey is preferred.

Ability to inspire and motivate others.

Coach Certificate as listed by SHA and Hockey Canada.

Criminal Record Check

Duties include, but are not limited to; preparing appropriate plans for each practice and provide appropriate communication to coaching staff prior to practice, coaching the team in all games and practices, holding tryouts and evaluating players to fill the roster, establishing rules for the team and overseeing the supervision of players, setting and enforcing standards to foster a positive environment for all players, time commitment of 1-2 practices per week, 1-3 games per week, plus tournaments and office programming.

Resumes can be sent to aa@martensvillehockey.ca and will be accepted until May 15, 2022.

Martensville SK 306-244-4950

Keep the Community up-to-date on your team scores, events, photos and tournaments. Submit material to jhayward@sasktel.net or drop it off at the Martensville Messenger Sealey, Martensville Messenger Office at Bay #7 - 301 Shanine Centennial As the continues to get warmer (then cooler, and then warmer again), Drive North toweather be included in our itweekly remindssports us thatreport. spring is officially here and with that comes a variety of new activities.

Janine Hayward

Upcoming Soccer Season Sees Record Breaking Registration

Martensville One of those activities includes the new season Messenger of soccer in the community. Martensville Soccer is only a couple of weeks away from kickoff and Kevin Munson, Vice President of the Martensville Soccer Association (MSA) is looking forward to the new season.

The MSA has been around since the 1980’s and Munson, who recently took on the role of running the association, knew that it would be a good fit for him. “I grew up in the City and I want to help grow the sport in Martensville,” Munson said.

Having joined the board in December of last year, Munson noted that a large part of his role involves coaching and providing oversight to the other coaches. “I enjoyed seeing the way the kids grow in that short space of time. I came in with the idea of growing the sport with a new structure and approach to the game for Martensville,” Munson explained.

With this restructuring of the organization, Munson is actively recruiting both female and male members and coaches and is working with both new and returning board members to continue to make improvements to the MSA. Munson and the Coach Coordinator are currently building session plans for coaches at all levels.

“Together, we can implement new programs, like camps. We are also making sure that our coaches are trained for the levels that are required. We look forward to seeing the progress our coaches make and how they pass on that development to the kids.”

The current season will see 200 kids participating in soccer, which is a 20% increase from the previous outdoor seasons, even prior to the COVID pandemic. Ages range from 4 years old to 13 years old; however, Munson would like to see the 15 years and older age groups begin taking place in the community once again.

“The teams are entered in league play this year for the first time in years. This means, not only will kids get training time, they will also get match time, both of which are really important to their development as players.”

The MSA is actively looking for more individuals to get involved for both volunteer and paid positions, including refs and coaches for the upcoming season. To get involved in this growing sport in Martensville, contact Kevin Munson at msa.info. sk@gmail.com or visit the Martensville Soccer Association Facebook page.

MHS Student Becomes Champion LEFT: Martensville High School’s own Braden Toth recently became the new boys’ singles Central Valley Athletic Conference (CVAC) champion in badminton, bringing home the win for the Royals. Congratulations Braden!

Sask Five Giants Get Ready for a Busy Season Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger

CHRIST IS RISEN HAPPY EASTER

Kelly Block MP CARLTON TRAIL—EAGLE CREEK

KELLY.BLOCK@PARL.GC.CA KELLYBLOCKMP.CA

The Sask Five Giants Baseball Association held their evaluation camp this past weekend, April 7 – 10 for the 11U – 18U age groups. The hitting and pitching camp was held at the Legends Centre in Warman and the fielding and running camp was at Martensville Athletic Pavillion (MAP).

Sask Five Baseball is a volunteer community-based association with six divisions; Junior Rally Cap, Senior Rally Cap, 11U, 13U, 15U and 18U. Rally Cap divisions run from beginning of May until the end of June playing twice a week on week nights in Dalmeny or Warman. According to their facebook page they stated, “After a few years of not being able to have our year end tournament we are excited to host it again in late June.”

With the exception of the 15U AAA team, the 11U,13U,15U and 18U teams will play in the Saskatoon Minor Baseball League. League play will start in early May with playoffs starting the beginning of July.

Practices are typically scheduled on the weekends, with league games scheduled on weeknights. Depending on age division, Provincial Championship tournaments will take place mid to late July.

This year they will have 2-18U teams, 3-15U, 6-13U, 6-11U, 6 Senior Rally Cap and 8 Junior Rally Cap teams.

Good luck to all this baseball season!

MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER - APRIL 14, 2022 - Page 5

Popular MCRP NHL Hockey Draft Fundraiser is Back Jocelyn Ottenbreit, Martensville Messenger

The Martensville Sports Centre was built in 1984, with a curling rink added on in 1986. The arena currently has five hockey dressing rooms, one figure skating room and one referee room, seats 600 people and 150 standing. It is home to minor hockey teams from initiation up to midget, rec. hockey teams, a curling club and figure skating club. Public skating and shinny is held throughout the winter season with an upper mezzanine that is also utilized for fundraisers, tournaments, and other special events.

With the population of Martensville continually rising, (currently around 11,000), enrolment in ice sports has increased and has created a very high demand for a second ice surface.

In 2014, a group of volunteers from Martensville saw this need and decided to form the Martensville Community Recreation Project (MCRP).

Since then, they have worked together to fundraise for a multi-purpose sports facility in the City of Martensville, raising $2,800,000 to date.

The multi-purpose facility will provide space for minor hockey, adult recreation hockey, CanSkate, Figure Skating, food services, ball hockey, indoor soccer, lacrosse and meeting rooms. This facility will be available to all sport, recreation and cultural groups requesting space for their programs with hockey, figure skating and soccer being the primary users of the facility.

One of the fundraisers that has been very popular is their annual NHL hockey draft. When the MCRP hosted this event for the first time in 2015 it started with 24 teams and has increased over the years to 40 teams. This year the MCRP will be hosting the

hockey draft fundraising event on Saturday, April 30th. The committee is excited to be able to host this tournament once again after a two-year hiatus because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The event will be held at the North Ridge Community Centre with doors opening at 4:30 pm. The cost is $620 per team (table of 8 includes supper). Prize for first place is $5000, second place is $2500, third place is $1000, and 16th place is $600.

Spots are filling up fast so if you are interested in attending this event you can register at mcrp.ca/events/ hockeydraft2022. All information about the event and how the draft works, rules etc. can be found on their website at mcrp.ca.

ABOVE & BELOW: The popular MCRP NHL Hockey Draft will be back at the Northridge Centre on Saturday, April 30th .

HEARD ANY GOOD NEWS LATELY? Submit your stories to The Martensville Messenger news@martensvillemessenger.ca

Kinder Products Recalled Due To Possible Salmonella Contamination SATURDAY, APRIL 30TH

DOORS OPEN 4:30PM 22043PS0

Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

A recall has been issued for numerous Kinder chocolate products from across Canada that may contain possible salmonella contamination.

The products, from the company Ferrero Canada Ltd., have been sold nationally, including in Saskatchewan stores.

Products include items such as Kinder Mini Eggs, Kinder Mix Egg Hunt Kits, Kinder Surprises and others. Full recalled product information can be found by visiting the official recall page from the Government of Canada.

If you believe you are sick due to consuming a recalled product, contact your physician. If you have purchased any of the listed products recently, check to see if they are a part of the recall, do not consume the product and recalled products should be thrown out, or returned to the location where they were purchased.

Short-term symptoms of salmonella include fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea. Long-term complications may include severe arthritis. Young children, pregnant women, the elderly and those with weakened immune symptoms may contract serious and sometimes deadly infections.

Page 6 - APRIL 14, 2022 - MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER

MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER - APRIL 14, 2022 - Page 7

MLA Terry Jenson’s Report from the Legislature Budget Highlights for Education & Child Care

NDP Haunted by Hospital Closures

The list of all the problems the NDP have in rural Saskatchewan is too long for just one column, but its biggest problem boils down to one of credibility - specifically, credibility in accounting for its past and providing solutions for the future.

We were reminded of this again last week when NDP leadership hopeful and Regina Lakeview MLA Carla Beck; one of now two people vying to replace Ryan Meili along with Saskatoon lawyer and community Kaitlyn Harvey; raised the issue of emergency care in rural Saskatchewan closing on weekends because of lack of staffing. One supposes that on this list would of NDP problems would be the reality that the NDP has not had an elected leader representing a seat outside Regina or Saskatoon since Woodrow Lloyd a half century ago. By contrast, the Saskatchewan Party has never had a leader from Regina or Saskatoon.

It wasn’t as if Beck’s points in the assembly weren’t good ones. In fact, they were the very concerns raised to her by rural municipal leaders, which is saying something. Such is the Sask. Party’s stranglehold in most of Saskatchewan, that many people, even elected municipal leaders, are afraid to speak up.

If rural people are complaining about something this Saskatchewan Party government is or isn’t doing, you know it’s got to be a problem. Moreover, it’s not just rural residents fearing a health care disaster that are frustrated by the lack of emergency services issued.

Beck was also tapped into sentiments of “tired, burned out” health care workers feeling “disrespected”.

A recent internal poll by the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses suggested that three in five have said they have considered quitting the profession, but the first problem for Beck and the NDP is what they would actually do that is different to address these issues.

Asked about this after question period, Beck called for more intensive recruitment of doctors and nurses, pretty much the same approach Health Minister Paul Merriman had cited moments earlier and certainly what Harpauer talked about in the March presentation of 2022-23 budget.

Doctor and nursing shortages have been a problem for years, and has worsened in the past five years, but the Sask. Party government is not wrong in saying that there is still far more of both since it came to power in 2007. Moreover, the Sask. Party eagerly cites the 36-per-cent raise it gave the Saskatchewan Union of Nurses in 2008 and creation of STARZ ambulances in response to rural emergency situations.

As Beck suggested it’s still not enough to address the rural health care problems, but she and the NDP should surely have to come to legislature with solutions to problems like this. In fact, it’s critical for the NDP to do this, given that a big contributing factor to all this was the decision of the last NDP government’s momentous decision 29 years ago to close 52 rural hospitals and the Plains Health Centre on the outskirts of Regina.

"I expected when I asked the question today that would be the retort from the minister," Beck later told reporters. "I understand that plays in the legislature, but it doesn't play (for those) who drive up to their local emergency room experiencing symptoms of a heart attack and find out they have to reverse course and go down the road to another emergency care room that is open."

No, it’s not just an issue in the legislature. But rural people know none the reason they must drive further for emergency or any other care because there are less rural hospitals. New Democrats can argue closing costly hospitals was a needed financial choice at the time, but they can’t just argue that problem is the rural hospitals are gone.

The NDP’s problem? They need to propose better alternatives.

This year’s provincial budget focuses on providing high-quality services and programs Saskatchewan families need. Our economy is back on track, allowing us to deliver those programs to you.

Education is a key investment for the Government of Saskatchewan, with our 27 school divisions receiving $2 billion in operating funding for the upcoming school year. This nearly $30 million increase will provide an additional $6 million for student learning supports and fully funds the 2 per cent salary increase for teachers as part of the Teachers' Collective Bargaining Agreement. To support students and teachers in the classroom, a new $7 million fund will enable school divisions to hire up to 200 additional full-time educational assistants for the upcoming school year.

On the capital side of things, over $95 million will support the ongoing planning and construction of 15 new schools and the renovation of five existing schools. Our government has also created a $4.5 million Minor Capital Renewal Program to extend the life of educational facilities. School divisions are encouraged to look into the program and submit applications for next year's budget.

Since 2007, our government has invested in building schools throughout the province. This year's record investment builds on the 57 new or replacements schools and the 28 renovation projects already completed. That is in stark contrast to the past NDP government that closed 176 schools throughout the province.

Outside of our schools, early childhood learning and child care services will see continued improvement with this latest budget. This year, $4.3 million will provide 6,100 new spaces, working towards creating 28,000 new regulated child care spaces over the next five years. We are also working to make childcare more affordable with this budget. Fees for children under the age of six have been reduced by an average of 50 per cent, with a further reduction coming as soon as September 2022. By the end of March 2026, fees will be reduced to an average of $10-a-day.

Part of the nearly $310 million in funding for child care will help complete preventative maintenance and repairs to facilities. We are also expanding services for children with disabilities as part of this budget.

Another $11.4 million will increase training initiatives and supports for early childhood educators.

Increased Funding for Emergency Medical Services Access to medical care outside of major centres received a lot of attention as we prepared this budget.

Improving access is a commitment that we have made, and this year we will see significant investment and expansion. A nearly $11 million funding increase will support stabilizing emergency medical services with more paramedics, more ambulances and more training. An additional 70.7 full-time equivalent positions will be added to address critical priority areas in 27 communities. $1 Million in Supports for Communities Working Together And as we kick off a new fiscal year, 23 municipalities will be receiving more than $1 million through the Targeted Sector Support initiative. This cost-sharing program will cover 75 per cent of the eligible costs for things like feasibility studies on safe water projects shared by neighbouring municipalities, governance training for councillors, drafting community plans or hosting capacity-building exercises between communities.

Dedicated to improving life for everyone in Saskatchewan, we are investing in better education, better childcare, better health care and more support for our municipalities. Saskatchewan is back on track and our future is bright.

Letter to the Editor The Martensville Messenger welcomes letters to the editor for publication. Letters must be signed and a phone number and/or email address included so the writer’s identity can be verified. ALL letters are the opinion of the writer and NOT the Martensville Messenger. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity or compliance with the current standards of public taste. Submit your letter to news@martensvillemessenger.ca or mail to Box 333 Martensville, SK S0K 2T0.

Page 8 - APRIL 14, 2022 - MARTENSVILLE MESSENGER

Ambulance Station to be Constructed on Centennial Drive North Shanine Sealey, Martensville Messenger

Martensville City Council held their monthly Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, April 12th. The meeting began with a presentation from the local RCMP who provided details regarding their calls for service for the month of March. A total of 121 calls for service were responded to throughout the month, and the report also noted that a total of 2688 calls, with 1432 being traffic/accident related, were responded to from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022. Currently, there are three vacancies within the department and three members on light duties. One of the vacancies will be filled by midMay. The next topic discussed at the meeting was in regards to an agreement made between the City of Martensville and the Martensville and District Lions Club. In 2019, the two entered into an agreement where the City would provide financing to the Lions Club in order for them to construct a shelter/shade within Lions Park in commemoration of their 40th anniversary. It was agreed that the Lions Club would pay back the total within a five-year period, which they did within two years.

The Lions Club has now requested a similar loan of up to $25,000, which would be used to purchase barrier free equipment for the Lions Park playground.

The agreement would be the same set-up, with the loan being paid back within a five-year period, which the

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Lions Club would do through grant submissions and with funds raised through the Valley Street Stock event.

Future plans to have barrier free rubber surfacing at the park is already in the works as well.

Council also discussed the 2022 Sask Lotteries Grant Funding Allocation, which is money that comes directly from proceeds of lottery ticket sales within the province and is based on a per capita formula.

The City of Martensville received $74,243 in total.

Local service groups, sporting clubs and schools put in their funding requests to the City of Martensville, and the money is allocated from there.

Additionally, Council covered a request from the province to have a subdivision that would allow for the development of an ambulance station at 710 Centennial Drive North, which would be located immediately north of Speedy Collision.

The proposal also included a request to have a

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The owners of the property and the development are Maunder McNeil and Associates, who will lease the building to Medavie. Construction is slated to begin in mid-April and be completed by mid-November.

“The ambulance has been operating in Martensville out of the fire hall, but we certainly look forward to a more permanent solution,” Mayor Kent Muench said.

Provincial Campsite Reservations Begin April 18

Sask Parks is reminding campers to prepare for 2022 campsite reservations, set to begin April 18 for seasonal campsites and April 19-26 for nightly, Camp-Easy and group campsites. “With reservations right around the corner, now is a great time for campers to ensure they’ve got their account set up,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Laura Ross said. “This year, we’ve added some new features on the reservation site, including Campsite Favourites, which will allow campers to create and save a list in their online account instead of writing site numbers down, or saving photos on their phone. Campers have been asking for this feature and we are excited to be able to offer it this season.”

Several new options will be available this year, including; Campsite Comparison, which allows you to compare up to three sites online to assist in deciding the site that best suits your needs. Campsite Favorites, where you can create a list of favorite sites that will be saved in your online account. Print-at-Home Entry – helps to speed up the check-in proves when you arrive at the park by printing your own daily, or weekly entry permit at home. Annual permits purchased online will be mailed the next day and a printable temporary pass is available and valid for three weeks from purchase. Additionally, maps for campsites have been upgraded and geographical information system maps have been added to the site.

There are four new day-use pavilions available to reserve for dates starting in July at Blackstrap, Buffalo Pound, Echo Valley and Pike Lake Provincial Parks and at the new Pine Hill campground at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, which can be reserved for dates beginning in July. Six new Camp-Easy yurts are available in various provincial parks with upgraded queen beds and hammock camping is available at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park in a campsite that includes a Weaver structure that holds up to six hammocks.

Campers are also reminded to check out the numerous programs and special events that are scheduled across 21 parks for the 2022 season. Engaging and educational recreation programs include guided hikes, geocaching activities, canoeing programs and more. New this summer, Sask Parks will offer themed days on weekends, which will include unique programming, special guests and hands-on experiences that are centered around the weekly theme in each park. Programming details are available at http://parks. saskatchewan.ca.

The complete reservation schedule for 2022 is as follows; Seasonal campsites - April 18: all parks participating in the seasonal camping program. Nightly campsites - April 19: Saskatchewan Landing, Good Spirit Lake, Candle Lake, Meadow Lake. April 21: Echo Valley, Douglas, Pike Lake, Narrow Hills, Makwa Lake. April 22: Rowan’s Ravine, Danielson, Greenwater Lake, Great Blue Heron, The Battlefords.

April 25: Moose Mountain, Buffalo Pound, Duck Mountain, Bronson Forest. April 26: Crooked Lake, Cypress Hills, Blackstrap, Lac La Ronge. Reservations will begin at 7 a.m. each day.