MLA Report: The ‘forgotten corner’ no more

By Medicine Hat News Opinon on December 22, 2017.

This year has been one of recovery with strong indications 2018 will be one of growth for Medicine Hat and southeastern Alberta.

That is not to say we haven’t faced challenges like other communities in the province.

But over the past year the unemployment rate has dropped to four per cent or lower and the city has demonstrated a resilience found in few other resource dependent Western Canadian jurisdictions.

We have seen this government’s investments keeping Hatters employed which will now lead to the private sector having access to a stable and trained provincial work force as the economy recovers.

One new fire hall was completed and another well underway along with a number of utility and road upgrades done on South Railway Street funded through the provincial Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) program.

Funding for improved access to potable water to residents in Cypress County through upgrades to the Veinerville lift station were announced locally by Environment Minister Shannon Phillips in April.

Grant funding from the province to the Southeast Alberta Energy Diversification Symposium (SEEDS) allowed for our region to introduce itself to new corporate partnerships in energy development.

Wind projects announced last week in the County of Forty Mile and near Oyen will provide a competitive price for electricity production while providing jobs for the construction trades and a boost to the Medicine Hat economy. And there are dozens of such projects that have already received regulatory approval or are in the process of finalizing their applications that can make our city Energy Central.

Provincial incentives, in conjunction with those offered by the city through HatSmart, have allowed Hatters to see reductions for installation costs in residential and commercial solar generation.

Funding through the Community and Regional Economic Support (CARES) program will allow the Medicine Hat College the opportunity to develop new solar technologies.

The CARES program will also fund Brooks’ development of its business incubator — much like the program announced by Premier Rachel Notley at the college in February. That program also announced this year funding to Oyen for a logistics park feasibility study and Empress to look at tourism initiatives.

Education Minister David Eggen’s opening of the modernized Medicine Hat High School and the new Dr. Ken Sauer School earlier this year is evidence of this government’s commitment to providing access to a quality education.

In September, Community and Social Services Minister Irfan Sabir’s local announcement of more than $2 million to help fund a Medicine Hat Community Housing project should be seen as recognition of this city’s efforts to battle homelessness.

The announcement of provincial infrastructure funding to allow for a $360 million investment by Cavendish Farms for a potato processing facility will contribute to the prosperity of southeastern Alberta’s irrigated farms.

In the past, some have characterized our region as the “forgotten corner” of the province when it comes to the provincial government’s perspective.

Looking back at 2017, I think that would be a hard position to continue to hold.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year — it is my privilege to represent this wonderful city.

Bob Wanner is MLA (NDP) for the Medicine Hat constituency.

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