By Nadine Wilson MLA Saskatchewan Rivers

Sask Rivers – What’s on Your Mind

Sep 7, 2024 | 11:21 AM

Visiting with constituents over the summer is my favourite part of representing Saskatchewan Rivers as an MLA and 2024 has been no exception.

People have become more engaged with current affairs than ever since I was elected in 2007. Whether at a constituency coffee party or at one of the many community fairs, people were anxious to let me know what is on their mind as we head into fall. Here are the top five topics.

1) Health Care
Access to patient-centered health care is priority for many constituents in the riding. There is a consensus that services have declined since covid, with many labs now requiring appointments instead of offering walk-in services. It is harder to find a family doctor and many rural residents rely on travelling doctors and nurse practitioners. I heard opinions that we should be incentivizing our own Saskatchewan students to enter the medical field and rely less on imported medical talent.

2) Land Use Policies
A number of town hall meetings have been held by rural residents across the constituency. They are alarmed that their own municipal councils are being encouraged to adopt United Nations inspired land use policies that endanger our traditional rural lifestyles. These concerns stem in part, from the federal government offering direct funding to municipalities with conditions attached.

3) Housing & Communications Infrastructure
We are fortunate in Saskatchewan to have subsidized public housing available for low-income families. However, constituents have identified that sometimes policies that work in urban areas don’t meet the needs of rural communities. I have advocated to the government to consider empowering local rural housing authorities with the ability to be more flexible when considering the housing needs of the community.

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Rural areas also need serious upgrades to our communications networks. Service is spotty at the best of times, while summer is even more challenging at resort areas. This is especially detrimental to businesses which need reliable communication services to meet their customer’s needs.

4) Long Term Care for Severely Disabled Young Adults
Feather Ridge Care Home, situated in Christopher Lake, is a 10 bed facility designed to offer an age-appropriate home environment with Level 4 care services to young adults. Currently, young adults with complex medical needs are often placed in senior’s homes for life, or live with aging parents who struggle to provide the care they need. I have written a letter of support asking the government to fund the business model proposed for this facility which is empty at this time. Feather Ridge also enjoys the support of the Saskatchewan Royal Purple.

5) Public Safety
Public safety is always top of mind when I speak with constituents. Rural communities face ever increasing incidents of crime. Saskatchewan Rivers residents want common-sense solutions that will deal with repeat offenders that continually target them. This is an issue shared across the province in urban and rural settings. In our constituency, the Lake Country Crime Watch Inc is leading the way, working with local law enforcement and other agencies to help find these solutions.

What is your top concern as we move into the end of 2024? As always, you are welcome to phone, email or visit our constituency office at 1110 North Industrial Drive Prince Albert.

http://www.nadinewilson.ca
Ph: (306) 763-0615
Fx: (306) 763-2503
saskrivers@sasktel.net