MP Randy Hoback looks to the future

MP for the Prince Albert Riding, Randy Hoback, was in Nipawin, Jan. 19, for a passport clinic and stopped by to talk with The Journal about the past year, and what he's looking forward to in the future.

With legislation time on the horizon, Hoback discussed a variety of positive things that have happened over the past year.

"We've had a lot of different projects throughout the riding. For example, the expansion of Cumberland Regional College here in Nipawin and we've also had some good successes throughout the constituency, like helping get the kids out of Haiti," he said. The Frisky family from Carrot River and the Brundage family from Nipawin, both benefited from that.

"That's one of those make you feel good type of stories," he said.

Though the government has celebrated some successes, as a minority government, they've also seen their share of disappointments – the long gun registry was one of them.

"That should have moved forward. We were betrayed by members of the NDP and Liberals, who were behind it and then Jack Layton [NDP leader] and Michael Ignatieff [Liberal leader], went with a different vote, it really put the MPs in a tight spot," said Hoback.

"MPs do what the constituencies want – we should have had that one, and they let us down."

Hoback has seen an increased demand for more action on crime, specifically youth crime.

" We have a piece of legislature that has gone for their first and second readings, but have stalled in committee. They talk tough on crime, but they're not showing much commitment," said Hoback, who noted that the committee's were controlled by the opposition.

Hoback has upcoming plans to have various meetings regarding the crime legislation and the hurtles they're facing.

His hopes are that the crime legislature goes through in 2011.

"Youth crime has a big impact on this area. These kids are doing serious crimes and re-offending. They need to be put into programs to steer them in the right direction. We need to get them off the streets so that they're not creating more victims. The police and courts are asking for better tools to do that."

When dealing with youth, it's not just a provincial or federal responsibility, it's also a community responsibility.

"A lot of kids don't have the family support that some other families give. The communities as a whole have to embrace these kids," he said.

Another focus for the government in 2011 is cracking down on human smugglers.

"We need some tougher legislation to go after human smugglers," he said.

The new legislation would allow them to actually cease ships that bring in immigrants. The idea is to deter people from bringing them into the country, but making the consequences much larger.

"When people are considering smuggling people abroad, we want them to look at Canada and see the risk – it's a deterrent."

The No. 1 focus of the government in 2011 will be the economy and brining the government back to a balanced budget.

"We're committed to be balanced by 2015. We're going to do this not by cutting transfers to the province, towns or cities like people have done in the past," he said.

Canada has seen its share of healthcare cuts, and Hoback said they can't afford to make those cuts again as Canadians are still being affected by the cuts.

"We have to find the funds internally,' he noted. That means that they will look at making the government more efficient. Perhaps, cutting programs that were affected in the 1950s, but no longer apply to life in 2011 – or the reallocation of current funds.

Hoback is carefully optimistic about the economy. It has been slowly improving and 400,000 new jobs were created last year.

"Canada is a trading nation and when you look at what is going on in Europe, they're not out of the woods yet, so we have to be very careful. There's a lot of potential in Saskatchewan, but we have to be careful and cautious."

They will also be looking at pension plans, and housing – as well as backing off of stimulus projects as the money for those types of projects is gone.

"A lot of communities went and replaced what was in dire need of being replaced [under the stimulus spending], but there isn't going to be any new projects. The money is gone, it's not something we can do everyday," he said.

New for this year is the upgrades of the applications for the summer jobs program, which is funding for any employee looking to hire summer students. The application forms will be made available on the Service Canada website, Feb. 1, with the completion date being Feb. 28.

The program has always been there, but the government has put in consistent funding, and has added another $10 million across Canada to increase participation.

Hoback has been touring the constituency and is constantly looking for ideas from constituents in how to streamline the government, such as things they can do to create economic activity, without spending any more money.

He tries to get back to the constituency every weekend, but due to the minority government, sometimes that is hard.

He said having Cindy Murphy here in Nipawin, helps him keep his finger on the pulse. Murphy works about 20 hours a week and is out and about in the community having coffee with people and meeting with various others.

"It's important for her to be in the community and hearing about what people like and what they don't like," he said.

Hoback is constantly looking outside of the box in regards to how to stay in touch with the people in his constituency.

2010 proved to be challenging for the government, and 2011, will also bring new challenges, but Hoback said when you look at the rest of the world, the people of Saskatchewan and Canada are doing pretty well.