Independent receives awards at Saskatchewan Weekly Newspaper Association convention. Page 3
A way of life from our past -- See ‘Celebrating 100 Years’, Page 14-15
Extra funding to help ensure safety in Heartland facilities Heartland Health Region (HHR) has received $1.04 million in new provincial capital funding for equipment purchases and building repairs and upgrades. The health region will spend $300,000 to upgrade medical and diagnostic equipment. Another $740,000 will be used for building repairs and safety equipment, such as upgrading or replacing fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems, standby generators and Occupational Health and Safety items. Building repairs may include replacing windows and roofs, or similar building maintenance. This funding is part of the provincial government’s $133.1 million health system funding commitment announced February 22, for improvements to make the health system safer and more secure for patients and health providers. “Improving the health and safety of patients and longterm care residents is a priority for this government,” said Highways and Infrastructure Minister and MLA for Rosetown-Elrose Jim Reiter. “By addressing long overdue infrastructure improvements, we are
following through on our promise to put the patient first.” “This funding will be very helpful to the region as we make improvements to ensure we are able to provide a safe environment for our patients and staff,” said Health Region CEO Greg Cummings. The funding will allow the region to address the most pressing needs for building maintenance and repairs, and safety systems, he added. Heartland Health Region is in the process of reviewing its list of capital priorities, in order to meet the most pressing needs for repairs and equipment.
Egg-cellent art . . . With Easter a few short sleeps away, St. Gabriel School’s Sam Young puts marker to paper for a work of art, Tuesday. Sam and the rest of his classmates
were patiently waiting their turn for graduation pictures. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Wiebe wants to send common-sense to Ottawa by Kevin Brautigam of The Independent
New Democrat candidate Nettie Wiebe would like to see Saskatchewan take a leading role in Canadian affairs, and under an NDP government, Saskatchewan values would be brought to Ottawa. Wiebe, in Biggar last Tuesday, feels the campaign is going very well. “We have lots of new volunteers, lots of young people in the campaign, and it’s high-energy and very
positive, and that’s the kind of campaign I like. I like to run on the things that matter to us and the kinds of ways in which we can reach to make it better. “I like to hear what people are saying and then think about how we are going to go forward.” Doorstep issues, she says, are housing, pensions and health care. “I’ve talked to a lot of people from elsewhere in the country who in part came because Saskatchewan
Biggar’s CIBC celebrates 100 years . . . Biggar CIBC manager Melanie Peiffer, right, holds a celebratory cake as Mayor Ray Sadler prepares to cut, joined by Shelly Silvernagle, left, and CIBC Regional Manager Marilyn Frey, April 15. The Main Street bank hit a milestone with its 100th, and were joined by many customers, former and current employees, well wishers and friends. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
looked like it would offer jobs and the housing would be a little more affordable, and it turns out that the housing isn’t more affordable.” Pensions, particularly amongst seniors, are another big issue. Health care is always an issue, one that Wiebe says won’t go away anytime soon. “It’s one of those issues that a lot of people, rightly think, needs quite a bit of attention, and it needs federal attention.” She’s also hearing about education and safety issues. With more immigrants to the country, Wiebe says she’s finding the issues are more critical this time around than in the last campaign. With a little over two years since voters last went to the polls, Wiebe is adamant that residents really don’t find it much of an issue. She admits people are concerned over the costs associated with another election, but stressed the essential freedoms of a democratic system. “When you’re talking about the expense of an election, think about the privilege and the benefits, and how many people -- our own veterans among them -- who paid a high price for us to have this privilege. “It seems to me it’s
inappropriate for us, at Anderson [Cypress Hillsthis point, to say, ‘Oh, we Grasslands] conducted don’t want himself around the elections any democratic process, more!’ We do has brought the want elections; CWB’s survivability we want good into even greater government question, Wiebe an we want stresses. to secure that If it is a big issue, by the way we the long-gun registry vote.” hasn’t really emerged, The $300 Wiebe said. Nettie Wiebe million for an “I think I’ve gone election, Wiebe adds, was to five doorsteps of the what the Harper government hundreds and hundreds paid for one day of security I’ve been on, five or maybe at the recent G8 meetings, six, where someone has she stressed. mentioned the long-gun “This [election] is an registry,” she said. “I think expensive project,” Wiebe it’s become clear to everybody asserted. “But, you know, that, actually, they’re [the continuing with the Harper Conservatives] not going to government would be a much do anything real about that, more expensive project.” they’ll just continue to play S h e l i k e n s H a r p e r ’s that one out, it’s like reeling government to a car, fish at the end of a line.” squeaking and rattling down With Saskatoon-Rosetownthe road. You don’t ignore Biggar a hotly contested the potential for mechanical riding, Wiebe sees it as an grief, and neither should opportunity to bring the we about the current common-sense values of government, she stressed. Saskatchewan to the rest of “This Harper government, Canada. if they keep ‘driving’, they’re “What we have to offer blowing the ‘engine’ of this the country is some real economy.” advocacy from ‘here to On agriculture, Wiebe there’,” as opposed to ‘there says there is concern over to here’, Wiebe explained. what the government will “And I remind people, we do with the Wheat Board. gave them Medicare -- we The last Canadian Wheat have something to say from Board election and how here to there! We just need to Conservative MP David stand up and say it.”