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Stick around, little bug . . . Hannah Palmer, right, and Jayla Boobyer stare intently at a stick bug at St. Gabriel School last Wednesday. The St. Gabriel Kindergarten
class invited Tiny Tot Nursery kids over for a visit, a bit of play time, and a bit of some mucky, yucky bugs! (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)
Four elections in seven years Block amazed opposition forcing Canadians back to polls by Kevin Brautigam of The Independent
Sitting MP for SaskatoonRosetown-Biggar, Kelly Block finds it hard to believe opposition party’s have the best interests of the country in mind. Block, campaigning in the area last week, was disap-
pointed when NDP leader, Jack Layton, minutes after the Conservative budget had finished reading, moved to topple the government, sending voters to the polls, May 2. “Four elections in seven years,” Block says. “I truly believe that we had put
forward a budget that would be hard for the opposition to not support. We addressed a lot of issues that Canadians had raised with us throughout our pre-budget consultation process, and it was a budget that allowed us to implement some measures
while continuing to manage the economy and ensure that we would still get to a balanced budget by 2015.” Canada may be better off economically than other countries, but still, an election doesn’t help as the world financial slump grinds on, Block agrees.
Wildlife Federation hands out awards at annual banquet. See Page 15
“An election always cre- fail, Canada’s Economic Acates some uncertainty in tion Plan was cited as someterms of the outcome, and thing that had to be done, so when we see that we’ve and that it was working.” managed the economy reThe recent federal budget ally well coming out of the was to be the next phase of worst recession since the the Plan. Great Depression, it was “It was a good budget. unnecessary, to my way of Many good measures like thinking, unnecessary and the volunteer firefighters opportunistic.” tax credit, we were raising Block added that she be- GIS -- we were looking at inlieves Canadians have a vesting another $300 million choice on May 2 between for the Guaranteed Income a “strong, stable Conserva- Supplement. There was the tive government to continue Children’s Art Tax Credit. strengthening the economy, Many different things that creating jobs, or they can were going to be implechoose a coalition led by mented in the Budget that I Michael Ignatieff.” believe were addressing the She admits that it’s been needs that were raised durinteresting being on the ing the pre-budget consultaHill, trying to make things tions, and should have been work as her government supported by the opposition managed the economy, if they truly wanted to work knowing they were con- together, and were truly putstantly living unting Canadians der the opposition first and our threat of bringing economy.” Canadians to the Running for polls. the New Demo“It’s felt like we’ve crats in Saskahad to be ready toon-Rosetownsince the last elecBiggar is Nettion because we’ve tie Wiebe. Vicki lived under that Strelioff of Sasconstant threat.” katoon will run Kelly Block Pre-budget confor the Green sultation meetings Party. Strelioff, in the riding had many who grew up on the famresidents concerned that ily farm in Arelee, going to Canada continue to do well school in Perdue, works at and that the economy re- St. Paul’s Hospital. cover, Block said. For the Liberals, Lee Re“I asked constituents who aney will run. Little inforattended, ‘What did we do mation was received as of well?’,” she said. “Without press time.
Provincial funding improves patient safety at Biggar Hospital Heartland Health Region is nearing the completion of $4.3 million in projects to make health facilities across the region safer and more comfortable for patients, long-term care residents, employees and visitors. On April 1, local MLA Randy Weekes toured the Biggar Hospital to see for himself, the improvements made through the Ready for Growth VFA funding. Funding from the provincial government’s $1.5 billion Ready for Growth infrastructure initiative has enabled Heartland to make numerous upgrades, including replacing the roofs of nine health facilities, upgrading air conditioning
and ventilation in five facilities, and upgrading fire alarms and nurse call systems in nine facilities. “The government is committed to infrastructure renewal in Heartland Health Region, making the health system safer and more secure for patients, clients, visitors and health providers,” explained Weekes, on behalf of Health Minister Don McMorris. “These investments are one more way this government is putting patients first.” Weekes toured Biggar Hospital to see work on improvements to patient baths, and the impact of the new roof, upgraded fire alarm and nurse call systems and the
installation of handicap accessible doors. “The $4.3 million in funding for capital repairs and upgrades have gone a long way to improve our buildings and has helped address many of our highest infrastructure priorities,” said Director of Environmental Services, Wayne Pierrepont. Since 2008, the region has spent approximately $2.9 million on roofing systems, $456,000 on air conditioning and ventilation upgrades, $280,000 for life safety system upgrades, $300,000 to replace worn flooring systems, $90,000 for improved handicap accessible doors, and $35,000 for water heater
Biggar Hospital Care Team Manager, Deb Kurulak-Milne shows Biggar MLA Randy Weekes a room at the health facility that is currently undergoing upgrades to better meet patients needs. (Independent Photo by Daryl Hasein) upgrades. Another roof repair project with resume this spring.
The region is continuing to develop plans for the replacement of long-term
care homes in Biggar, Kerrobert and Rosetown.