Herb Cox back in Battlefords after spring sitting

With the legislature now in recess until the fall, Battlefords MLA Herb Cox is now focused on his work back home in his constituency.

Cox has been taking meetings and attending community events, as he turns his full attention to the work of connecting with the people he represents.

“In the first two weeks that we’ve been back here, I’ve had an opportunity to have appointments with numerous constituents, and I’ve been out in the public and talking to people,” said Cox. He said he’s attended the North West College graduation and some other events, and plans to attend more events throughout the summer.

Other members of the government have plans to be in the Battlefords as well. Thursday morning, Minister of Environment Dustin Duncan will be at an  event at the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce to speak on the topic of Prairie Resilience, the provincial government’s white paper on climate change.

The spring session was one of change in the legislature, with a new premier in Scott Moe, a new Opposition leader in Ryan Meili, a new Speaker in Mark Docherty, and several changes at the cabinet table.  

The leadership races also pushed back the usual sitting schedule. “We ended up sitting two weeks later than we usually do,” said Cox.

Despite all the changes at the top, it seemed a far less turbulent session compared to a year earlier, an assessment Cox agrees with.

“There was some effort on both sides of the floor to make that work,” said Cox. “I know that Premier Moe’s intention is to keep the transition as seamless as possible. I think he’s done an excellent job at that.”

Cox gives a big thumbs-up to Moe’s performance so far in taking over from former premier Brad Wall.

“Premier Moe has just stepped in and he’s doing an excellent job. He’s not afraid to take a stand for our province and that’s what we need in a premier. We brought in some legislation to protect and hopefully prevent the carbon tax from ever coming to Saskatchewan, that would be devastating. He’s also taken a very positive stance to get the Trans Mountain Pipeline built.”

Overshadowing the events of the spring sitting was the tragedy of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash on April 6, in which 16 people lost their lives.

That prompted some changes at the legislature, as question period was cancelled for a couple of days as MLAs, including Cox, rose to extend condolences. 

“That affected every one of us,” said Cox about the tragedy. He noted the MLA from Humboldt, Donna Harpauer, had to press on and present a budget as finance minister just days afterwards, and that “just made it doubly horrible.”

“It’s something that’s touched everybody in the province, probably touched everybody in the entire country.”

Carbon Tax

The session saw a number of issues on the plate of the new premier and the government, among them the carbon tax issue. Cox says he believes there are other options to reduce emissions besides a carbon tax.

“I still stand by our Boundary Dam 3 and the carbon capture,” said Cox.

“Those are the things that are going to reduce CO2 emissions, not a carbon tax. A carbon tax is shuffling money around, whatever you want to call it. It’s been proven … it hasn’t worked in B.C., Australia has thrown it out after two years. I think a Saskatchewan-made solution is far better.” 

The dispute between British Columbia and the other western provinces over the Trans Mountain Pipeline was a major issue as well, with the federal government finally stepping in to buy the pipeline for $4.5 billion so it could get built.

“I hope that works, I really do,” said Cox. “We’re strongly advocating for that pipeline to get built.” He noted getting the pipeline would make a difference “not only to the oil producers in the province but the revenue the government gets from those oil producers.”

Health Care 

On health care, Cox is enthused about the finish line being in sight for the construction of the Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford.

“I’m excited and I certainly think anyone who works out there and the clients who live out there are really excited,” said Cox.

“It’s just beautiful. The staff that’s out there are literally over the moon happy about what’s being done and I can’t wait for the day we do the ribbon cutting and see the residents moved in there.”

Cox also defends the use of P3s in the project. He says they saved the taxpayers from being on the hook for issues such as the Carillion bankruptcy, and some of the construction issues that had to be dealt with.

“Had it been a conventional build, that would have been on the government,” said Cox.

He said the P3 proponents “take the risk, and that is kind of what P3s are about, is the transfer of risk from the government to the private sector. And we’re going to get a hospital back 30 years from now that’s in like-new condition, because they’re doing the maintenance. So I’m totally in favour of a P3 project.”

Global Transportation Hub

The GTH, and the activities of former minister of the economy Bill Boyd, have also come up during the session.

“They continue to go down that road,” said Cox, “and we’ve said on numerous occasion, our justice minister has said that the investigation has been turned over to prosecutions in Manitoba. Until that runs its course we can’t make comment on it.”

Policing, Roads and Education

Crime continues to be of interest to those in the Battlefords. Cox attended the RCMP town hall meeting in Battleford June 5 at which area residents aired their concerns and ideas about crime and policing.

They also heard what the RCMP and the province were doing.

“There is good work being done but a lot of times the average citizen doesn’t know that,” said Cox. “It’s a good opportunity to get out and hear what the RCMP is doing, and what we’re doing, certainly.”

He notes SGI made a $4.9 million commitment to the Protection and Response Team, and the province added additional funds to bring the commitment to close to $6 million. Cox also said the province is also working on information technology initiatives.

“Two hundred and fifty-eight retrained and repositioned, and some new, peace officers around the province have certainly been a help,” said Cox.

Another initiative Cox points to from the session is the commitment in the budget to build passing lanes on Highway 4 north of the city. 

“There’s just so much traffic on that highway, it’s important to have,” said Cox.

He also noted the tax incentive on value-added agriculture, for either new plants or plant expansion, was another important initiative this session.

“We’re the breadbasket of the world here and we could be doing more. So we’re hoping this incentive will trigger some more investment and create some more jobs, and that’s a good thing.” 

Cox was also happy to see $30 million added to the education budget this session.

Dealing with the coming cannabis legalization has also been a priority this session, but Cox acknowledges there was still uncertainty surrounding the federal legalization. The Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority has awarded a number of retail permits to applicants selected through a lottery-draw process.

 “We’re taking very proactive steps to make sure this thing is done right,” said Cox.