Battlefords MLA calls provincial budget ‘pretty positive’

Apr 10, 2018 | 6:49 PM

Battlefords MLA Herb Cox has seen his share of provincial budgets since he became the area representative in the Saskatchewan legislature in 2011 and while he knows not everyone will be pleased with the document presented by Finance Minister Donna Harpauer, he believes Tuesday’s budget is exactly what is needed for the province at this time.   

The veteran MLA told battlefordsNOW he feels the first budget under Premier Scott Moe’s administration was a “pretty positive” budget which he thinks has something in it for everyone.

“When you look at it, there are a lot of good things in this document,” said Cox. “Health care funding is up, social services and education funding has also increased with this budget so I think we are headed in the right direction.”

Cox added the budget also featured two items that were very important to him the first being improvements to the highway between North Battleford and Cochin.

“I’m delighted that finally after many years of lobbying from both Cut Knife-Turtleford MLA Larry Doke and me, we are going to get passing lanes on Highway 4 between North Battleford and Cochin,” he said. “As well we will see 30 km of repaving on that stretch of highway which will make it a safer road for everyone.”

The second highlight was an additional $4.9 million in new funding from SGI for enhancements to the Rural Crime Strategy. Cox was the chair of the Saskatchewan Caucus Committee on Crime Reduction which toured the province in 2016 hearing concerns from communities to address crime in the province.

“This announcement was certainly near and dear to my heart,” he said. “We know crime in the province is an issue that is front and centre and when you see this $4.9 million get added to the $1 million of continued funding that was put into last year’s budget as a result from the Crime Reduction Committee; we feel it is certainly crucial.”

Cox added this includes funding for an additional 30 police positions for phase two of the province’s Combined Traffic Safety Services Unit.

Another important element to this year’s budget was an increase in education funding which brings the amount being spent on education to $1.87 billion this year up $30 million from last year.

 Cox said it was important this money was earmarked for classrooms.

“It was a campaign promise of the [remier’s to have that money for our students plus don’t forget we put $7.5 million into education in the last quarter of the year as well,” Cox added. “This money will be positive for the education of our young people in the hiring new teachers or educational assistants.”

Although Tuesday’s budget saw the province’s long term debt increase $2.3 billion to $20 this year, Cox still feels the province is on track to bring in a balanced budget in 2020.

“A lot of tough decisions had to be made this year we know that but I truly believe we are on the right path towards balancing the budget in the timeframe we set out,” he added.

 

roger.white@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @RJWtheReporter