Hoback talks about economy

By Melissa Mangelsen/Nipawin Journal

MP for the Prince Albert Constituency, Randy Hoback, was in Nipawin, Jan. 27, meeting with business owners and constituents.

Hoback takes every opportunity he has to come back to the area and hear concerns from constituents, but he said this time it has been fairly quiet.

“I've mostly met with business owners, there were some concerns regarding labour shortages, but for the most part business is going strong, and there's a really positive atmosphere,” he said.

He noted that there was a trend regarding immigration concerns as well as agriculture concerns.

“I think it's really important to get back to Nipawin and the area. I have Cindy Murphy here who keeps a finger on the pulse. She has been very well received and people are appreciating the office here in Nipawin,” he said.

Hoback was back in Ottawa on Monday, where the government is facing issues regarding the economy as well as wrapping up the long gun registry dissolution and work with the youth justice act.

“Our main focus is the budget and what's happening in Europe. We're keeping an eye on what originates in Europe, it could sideswipe us.”

The economy in Saskatchewan continues to be strong due mainly to the resource and agriculture sectors. Canada as a whole, is leading all the other G8 countries.

“Saskatchewan is positioned well in light of the rest of the world,” he said.

Doctor shortages is an ongoing issue in Saskatchewan, and Hoback said the provincial and federal governments will be increasing funding to help recruit doctors.

Hoback has had an excellent working relationship with Nipawin and council.

“Lawrence [Rospad] is great to work with,” he said.

The big issue in Nipawin has been the cost of the Water Treatment Plant, which will see Nipawin's utility bills soar.

“We're going to do what we can to help with that, but right now there just isn't any money there,” said Hoback.

“It would have been nice to have this project under the stimulus, but that money is gone. It's pretty tough to find any funding right now, it's like flipping stones. If this was brought forward in 2008 it would have been a perfect fit for stimulus spending,” said Hoback.

When the idea of stimulus dollars was brought forth to Nipawin, at the time, there was no priority list in place for Nipawin.

“We asked communities at that time if they had any projects for the next five years and for whatever reason, this never came up. It was a rare opportunity [stimulus funding]. It doesn't matter about the past, what's done is done, we just have to move forward,” said Hoback.

Hoback was in Nipawin for the Chamber's President's Dinner, which was held in the evening of Jan. 27. He received a business recognition certificate at the dinner for relocating his MP office to downtown Nipawin for better accessibility.

Hoback will be back in Nipawin this weekend, to help celebrate the grand re-opening of the Centennial Arena. The project was done under the federal government's stimulus spending.