Martensville Messenger June 23, 2016 | Page 14

MLA Report From OPINIONS OPINIONS OPINIONS Nancy Heppner Page 14 - june 23, 2016 - martensville messenger Phone: 306-668-1093 Email: [email protected] and other benefits, visit Saskatchewan’s Population Continues saskatchewan.ca/business/ 68-1093 Email: [email protected] ne: 306-668-1093 Email: [email protected] Wall OverSimplifying Oil Issue The more complex the issue, the more politicians are eager to simplify for their political advantage. In its most extreme, we see Donald Trump dutifully trying to capitalize on the recent shootings at an Orlando, Fla. gay bar by making it all about “radical Islam”. It’s a narrative that neatly fits his policy of banning Muslims from immigrating to the U.S. Trump’s argument conveniently leaves out the reality that the gunman was born in Queens, N.Y. And notwithstanding the shooter’s stated motivation and pledges of loyalty to ISIS, there was really likely a series of complex mental health and other factors that caused this Muslim man (who had a penchant of hanging around gay bars) to gun down 49 innocent people. However, mentioning “radical Islam” as much as he can does simplify things for Trump’s support who want to believe there is a simpler way to end such threats. Of course, such oversimplification by politics isn’t always so dramatic. But it does consistently happen. And it happens rather close to home where politicians will take a nugget of logic and pound on it until it fits their purposes. Take the 1990s NDP government that decided to close 52 rural hospitals and the Plains Health Centre in Regina in response to the massive debt and structural deficit left behind by the Progressive Conservative government of the 1980s. Logic suggested something had to be done, but what was less logical was closing the best hospital facility in Regina and spending $100-millionplus to renovate the oldest hospital facility in Regina. Even less logical was leaving vast swaths of rural Saskatchewan without emergency care. (If the NDP felt the need to close these hospitals, should they not have considered the value of STARS ambulance?) But logic in politics doesn’t work that way. Instead, it is the nature of politicians to take a complex issue, strip away a lot of logic from the discussion and leave voters only with what politicians think voters want to hear. In a very real way, this was exactly what Premier Brad Wall is now doing in his bid to convince supporters that the oil industry is under siege from the left. Now, don’t get me wrong. The logic part is that there isn’t much logic in the “Leap Manifesto” now being explored by the federal NDP. In fact, it’s rather nuts, starting with its rush to end all fossil fuel usage and to abandon large-scale commercialized farming in favour of boutique small (read: organic; non-GMO farming). Provincial Politics with Murray Mandryk Wall is right that such notions can be beaten with facts. And it is fact that converting Canada to a carbon-less economy would be ridiculously unaffordable. It is also a fact that it makes more sense for Canadians to build pipelines - especially the Canada East pipeline - than to import oil from Saudi Arabia. But let’s face it: This Leap Manifesto notion is not going anywhere. And Wall is just oversimplifying matters to point of absurdity by suggesting the Leap Manifesto or Hollywood crowd (including th e likes of 1980s star Darryl Hannah) are a threat to the oil industry. Wall is doing his job by defending unemployed oil workers, but they are out of work because oil is less than $50 US a barrel - not because of the Leap Manifesto, Darryl Hannah, or the notion that investors are bailing from oil because of massive environment concerns. Work on convincing people in the east of the validity of building pipelines for Western oil rather than importing from disreputable regimes in the Middle East. Help put oil workers back to work by pressuring the federal government to offer financial help with abandoned wells. But don’t insult voters’ intelligence by simplifying a complex issue like oil. This problem deserves more thoughtful consideration. to Grow Saskatchewan’s population grew to another all-time high in the first quarter of 2016, according to the latest figures released by Statistics Canada. There were 1,146,655 people living in Saskatchewan as of April 1, 2016 – up 4,085 from January 1, 2016 and up 16,118 over the past year. Saskatchewan’s population has now grown in every quarter for 10 consecutive years, growing by more than 155,000 during that period. In the previous decade 1996 to 2006, Saskatchewan’s population dropped in 28 of 40 quarters, declining by more than 26,000 people. Changes to Compassionate Care Leave Benefits Saskatchewan employees who need to take time away from work to care for a loved one will soon be eligible to receive up to 28 weeks of job-protected leave – an increase from eight weeks. Saskatchewan will be one of three provinces to increase this leave to match the changes to Employment Insurance, recognizing that families are important and generational needs are changing. For more information on compassionate care leave employment-standards. Family Matters Program Available Province-Wide A successful program that has been helping to minimize the effect of separation and divorce on family members, especially children, is now being offered throughout Saskatchewan. Family Matters can help couples work through issues outside of the courts by providing information on child custody, parenting plans, children’s developmental needs and property division. For more information, call 1-844-863-3408 or email [email protected] Government Introduces Legislation to Improve Saskatchewan Auto Injury Coverage Coverage amendments introduced in the Legislative Assembly will improve Saskatchewan’s auto injury program to better meet the needs of people who are injured in vehicle collisions. Amendments to The Automobile Accident Insurance Act have different impacts for all Saskatchewan auto injury programs. In total, there are more than 20 changes, such as: ABOVE: MLA Nancy Hepner • When an impaired driver causes a collision and is killed, allow an innocent party or the family impacted to sue for pain and suffering or bereavement damages (No Fault, Reduced No Fault and Tort coverage). • The list of offences that trigger the ability for an innocent party to sue for pain and suffering or bereavement damages will expand to include: criminal negligence causing death or bodily harm, criminal negligence causing bodily injury, flight from a peace officer and dangerous operation while street racing (No Fault, Reduced No Fault and Tort coverage). • Ensuring income benefits maintain pace with minimum wage (Tort and Reduced No Fault coverage). The amendments are based on recommendations from SGI resulting from consultation with and feedback from a variety of stakeholders and groups. The legislation is anticipated to be passed during the fall 2016 sitting of the Legislature, with changes taking effect January 1, 2017. Letter to the Editor The Martensville Messenger welcomes letters to the editor for publication. Letters must be signed and a phone number and/or email address included so the writer’s identity can be verified. ALL letters are the opinion of the writer and NOT the Martensville Messenger. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, clarity or compliance with the current standards of public taste. Submit your letter to [email protected] or jottenbreit@ martensvillemessenger.ca or drop by the Martensville Messenger office at Bay #7 - 301 Centennial Drive North.