Webpaper 35

Page 1

Vol. 104 No. 35

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013

Box 40, 102 3rd Ave West, Biggar, Saskatchewan S0K 0M0

email: tip@sasktel.net

20 pages

Phone: 306-948-3344

$1.25

www.biggarindependent.ca

Block to run in new federal riding “I still strongly believe that the current model would continue to serve Saskatchewan well.” Block adds that in Sasby Kevin Brautigam katchewan, you had, reof The Independent gardless of political stripe, Federal electoral riding 14 Members of Parliament changes have current that had to Saskatoon-Rosetownhave a strong Biggar MP Kelly Block grasp of urban making a decision to and rural conrun in the new area cerns. come the October 2015 “Whether election day. people want To be called “Humto believe it or boldt-Warman-Marnot, we are intensville-Rosetown” Kelly Block terdependent. the new area includes We have relaBiggar, extending west of tionships that can not, and Rosetown to east of Hum- should not, be ignored,” boldt, but does not include Block said of the rural/urportions of Saskatoon. The ban kinship and, at times, federal electoral boundar- opposing interests. ies commission released “Because we are a provits final report August 21, ince of a million people, creating five new federal we are a small population urban ridings - three for spread out over a large geoSaskatoon, two for Regina graphic area. We have done - still retaining the 14 seats what we needed to do when of the previous system. it comes to building part“What’s happening is all nerships, ‘regionalizing’ of my rural, all of Maurice with urban municipalities Vellacott’s rural, and all of with their neighbouring Brad Trost’s rural is form- rural municipalities when ing a new riding. So that’s it comes to providing serhow they managed to create vices and working together, three urban-only ridings so we’ve done what we have and create a rural riding had to do in order to make that stayed within the 14 things work, and that inseats,” Block explained. She cludes partnerships,” she made the announcement to added. run in the next federal elecRegardless of the big tion on Wednesday. change, Block is still lookBlock added that while ing forward to the October Saskatchewan is a prosper- 2015 election and running ous province, and the de- for a third time. mographic is changing, she “I know in my press redoesn’t believe the change lease I said that this was was warranted. a very difficult decision to

make, and it truly was, to see the current riding be split into an urban riding and the rural spread in to another riding - that was hard. I had to think long and hard about where I might run,” Block stresses. “I continue to have strong ties in the rural areas that Maurice Vellacott currently represents, and I believe I have strong ties in the rural part of Saskatoon-Rosetown-Biggar, so that really shaped my decision.” Block views the change as an opportunity to build new relationships - rural and urban. Humboldt, Warman, Martensville, she reminds, are still cities, and all are represented in the new riding, bringing a new set of challenges and concerns. “I certainly believe that because of the interdependence I’ve highlighted between urban and rural Saskatchewan, even though I’ll be representing a rural riding, those relationships will still have to be attended to. It will be interesting to sit around the table with Members of Parliament who might appear to have to focus on different issues. “The issues are probably going to be very similar,” she explained. “Not every rural community is exactly like the other. Yes, there are concerns and issues that are very similar, but this new riding . . . there will obviously be different issues that will need to be addressed.”

Storm cloud horizon . . . Clouds loom on in the distance east of Perdue last week as temperatures in the 30s bring the inevitable threat of rain and lightening, booming and crashing. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

Tanya Fyson, Brody Fyson and Luke Gray listen to VAST’s Lisa Rocheleau (right) explain their humanitarian work in Haiti, Saturday at the Perdue Oasis Golf Resort. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)

Volunteer veterinarians looking for your help in Haiti by Kevin Brautigam of The Independent

An organization that performs humanitarian work in Haiti was at the Perdue Oasis Saturday, raising funds and awareness for their veterinarian services to the Third World country. Veterinarians Abroad Supporting and Teaching (VAST) currently focus their attention on Haiti, providing vet services and conducting educational clinics to teach animal husbandry. The fledgling organization was at the Perdue Oasis Golf Resort for a Family Fun Day, August 24, painting faces, hosting games for the kids, talking about their work, raising funds for their next trip to Haiti this October. With Haiti amongst the poorest countries in the world, VAST relieves poverty by teaching the proper care of animals necessary for the food or other economic purposes. Teaching animal husbandry and providing basic vet services is the ulti-

mate aim of VAST. “Haiti is amongst the poorest countries in the world, with some of the highest infant mortality rates, illiteracy rates and infectious disease rates found globally,” a VAST brochure explains. “Since the level 7 earthquake in January of 2010, a cholera epidemic has devastated the working population, compromising their ability to rebuild. Add the fact that more than 80 per cent of the population survives on less than $2 US a day, and it is understandable why individuals are unable to ensure that their livestock remain healthy and vaccinated. Unfortunately for most Haitians, all of their family’s wealth and security are tied up in what few animals they own - chickens, goats, and the occasional pig.” VAST offers Haitians the basis services we take for granted. The goal is to teach people how to recognize key

diseases in livestock before they become fatal, as well as give locals the opportunity to have their animals’ health checked, vaccinated and dewormed. A secondary goal is to take much needed vet medicines and supplies to the population. VAST made their first trip in May of 2012, establishing relationships with the departments of Agriculture, Health, and Education, as well as the University and several area veterinarians. Each year VAST needs to raise a minimum of $15,000 per year to pay for interpreters, guides, within-country travel expenses, buy medications and supplies, and secure space for onsite clinics. The Perdue Oasis Golf Resort generously allowed space for VAST on Saturday to promote their philanthropic organization. If you want to get involved with VAST, log on to vetsabroad.wordpress.com/ about.


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