Gov’t is spending, but spending wisely

Medicine Hat is currently seeing some of the highest employment numbers in the past two years, according to the latest Medicine Hat-specific Statistics Canada job report.

The year-over-year Statistics Canada results for May show 4,300 more Hatters employed, 2,300 fewer unemployed and a jobs outlook which is outperforming many regions in neighbouring Saskatchewan and B.C.

This government is continuing to support Medicine Hat through the $4.25 million recently approved Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) funding for airport improvements, $2.3 million for upgrades at the Esplanade and $700,000 in funding for the expansion of the Parks and Recreation administration building.

These days Hatters are seeing their provincial tax dollars hard at work.

The new Fire Station No. 1 received $6.5 million in MSI funding in addition to the $9.5 million in provincial money for the recently completed Fire Station No. 2.

While motorists might complain about the South Railway Street construction, it would be hard to complain about the province funding the project to the tune of $4.8 million through MSI which is putting Hatters back to work.

But there are a few in our community who believe spending tax dollars on new schools, roads and hospitals is reckless.

Parents who will be sending their kids to one of the two new elementary schools or two revamped high schools in the Hat or students who will benefit from nearly $1.3 million in additional funding to local school boards this year may think differently.

Hatters who aren’t seeing their health services drastically cut may actually not want to see a return of a slash and burn approach to provincial health care.

Motorists, the agricultural sector and commercial transporters who rely on roads to move themselves and their products may have something to say about reducing investment in infrastructure — especially those who have travelled the bone-jarring road networks in other prairie provinces.

But make no mistake, there is a faction in this province which believes we need to cut investments in our communities, our health care and our social services. They believe it is better for public spending to be a knee-jerk exercise where rather than supporting our cities, schools and hospitals with stability, we build when costs are highest and withdraw into an economic shell when prices are lowest.

It defies both reason and logic to spend the maximum amount of tax dollars possible during boom times when costs are peaking and even finding someone to do the work is nearly impossible. That policy didn’t work last time Alberta tried it, which resulted in a massive infrastructure deficit in the short term and sky-rocketing project costs in the long term.

Investing in Alberta is sound fiscal public policy when costs for essential infrastructure are the most affordable in 20 years and the need for residents to be put back to work is at its greatest.

This government is committed not to slash health care services, starve our municipalities of funding or let support for schools suffer to the point in which students receive a second-rate education.

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