review
weyburn Vol.115 No. 02 - Weyburn, Saskatchewan Wednesday, January 8, 2025 - 12 Pages
Christmas Sixes tourney held
People’s Choice exhibit installed
Weyburn Lacrosse hosted a day long tournament at the Credit Union Spark Centre. Page 6
A variety of media has been used by exhibitors in this year’s James Weir People’s Choice exhibit. Page 12 $1.25 (Includes GST)
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Trudeau stepping aside a ‘Christmas wish come true’
Hanging a multi-media piece for People’s Choice
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
Curator Regan Lanning carefully hung up this multi-media piece, one of 23 entries for the 41st annual James Weir People’s Choice exhibition, on Monday afternoon. The exhibit opened for viewing and voting on Tuesday, and will be open at the Weyburn Art Gallery until March 14.
New MLA looks forward to representing voters By Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca Weyburn lawyer Mike Weger has been making many adjustments to fit into his new role, as the MLA for Weyburn-Bengough, elected in November, replacing long-time MLA Dustin Duncan. He noted that 2024 was an exciting year politically, and he was happy that the Sask Party was again able to form a majority government in Saskatchewan. “Everywhere around the world and even in this country, incumbent governments were falling. Change was the big theme,” said Weger in a year-end interview in his new constituency office. He is occupying the same office space that his predecessor had on Fourth Street, next door to the Weyburn Primary Care Medical Clinic. It was disappointing that the province’s two biggest cities don’t have much representation from the Sask Party, he said, but they do in most of the other cities in Saskatchewan. The government had a brief two-and-a-half week session to swear in the new government, and the new MLAs like himself were able to get their feet wet in the House to see how things work. “I’m really encouraged with the people I get to work with,” said Weger, noting at the very first caucus meeting, Premier Scott Moe pointed out they were in a room with 34 other like-minded MLAs from all different walks of life, but all with the same goal in working for their constituents, “with the goal of making this province be the best place to be in Canada.”
MLA in his new office
By Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca The announcement by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that he will be stepping aside came at the perfect time, at the end of the ChristmasNew Year’s holidays, said Souris-Moose Mountain MP Robert Kitchen, as he made many Christmas wishes come true. Trudeau made his announcement on Monday morning that he would leave as Prime Minister once a new Liberal leader is chosen, and will be proroguing Parliament until March 24 to allow that to happen. “It’s a good step, but it still hasn’t got us that carbon tax election that we need,” said MP Kitchen from his home in Estevan. “We believe we need that election, and we need to get it as quick as possible.” The MP pointed out the many problems caused by the Liberals over the last nine years, including the carbon tax which is killing jobs, supported by all Liberal members. “That’s what people across the country need to remember, every single Liberal, whether running for the leadership or coming back to run, they all actively supported this prime minister’s out-of-control spending, his out-of-control deficits, his policies that that have increased the debt by 150 per cent. We can’t let that be forgotten,” said Kitchen. After Trudeau’s announcement, he asked the Governor General to prorogue Parliament until March 24 as the Liberals seek a new party leader. MP Kitchen said once
this is done, the House will be called back to order with a new Throne Speech, and after it’s debated it will go for a confidence vote. Both the Conservative and NDP leaders have said they would be going for a defeat of the government at the first confidence vote opportunity that comes up. “We want that election, end of story, and that is what we will continue to push for,” said the MP. “Who that new leader will be is hard to say. I’m sure there will be a bunch of names thrown in, and a number of people not in government,” he added. Noting that Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned right before Christmas, he guessed she might be one of those who will run for the party leadership. If she does, voters need to remember that she set a deficit of $40 billion for the current year, and it’s already increased by $62 billion. “She’s guilty (for the deficit) just like every one of them. She created that deficit spending, or their constant over-spending,” said the MP. Mark Carney is another possible leadership name, and Kitchen pointed out he endorsed the carbon tax that is in place in his book, “so he’s just as guilty on that tax and the huge deficit we’re accumulating. Hopefully people will point those facts out. As Parliament will not be in session for the next three months, Kitchen said he will be around the constituency a fair amount, and will be available for constituents should they need to contact him at any point.
Photo – Greg Nikkel, SaskToday.ca
New MLA Mike Weger was settling in to his new constituency office, as he took over the space formerly occupied by long-time MLA Dustin Duncan on Fourth Street. Weger said he is looking forward to learning the ropes and getting into his new role as MLA for Weyburn-Bengough for the next four years. He noted that out of the caucus, there are 16 new MLAs in the “Class of 2024”, who will all be learning the ropes like he is. Weger was able to make a member statement in the House, with his first one on the Festival of Trees that was just held for the Family Place in Weyburn. Part of his new role will be sitting on a number of House committees and the SLGA board, and when he’s not busy with business there, he will be representing his constituents and meeting with them as
he is able, and getting out to events in the riding. As an example, in December, he made an appearance at the CPKC Holiday Train when they made their stop in Weyburn a week before Christmas. He also visited a Hockey Day event held in Yellow Grass just before the holidays. While at these events, Weger had people come up to him to chat with him or just to say hello, and he hopes this will continue as he gets out and about in the riding.
In part, he is able to educate people on what the job of an MLA is when he meets them, in addition to reaching out to media as issues come up in the riding and in the province. He is also able to reach out to veteran MLAs in the House anytime he needs to find out information relating to his new position. Weger noted that the spring sitting will open in March with the Throne Speech and the spring budget to look forward to in the coming weeks.
A moose on the loose
This young female moose was spotted in a field just off the road between Stoughton and Midale on Thursday, peacefully grazing on whatever grass she could Photo – Leslie Coulter, Weyburn Review find in the field.