Greg Lawrence
The Fall Sitting of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly is a busy time that involves a lot of back and forth between Moose Jaw and Regina, as well as some long days at the legislative building. MLAs from across the province debate and work together to advance legislation and introduce a number of new initiatives to improve the lives of Saskatchewan people.
There were a few highlights for me including the announcement of a new Police and Crisis Team (PACT) in Moose Jaw. The PACT program pairs members of the Moose Jaw Police Service with a mental health professional to respond to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. The goal is to provide the right kind of care to people who are better-served within the community, thereby avoiding emergency department visits and entry into the criminal justice system.
Community safety is priority for the Government of Saskatchewan. In addition to the PACT program, our government recently committed $330,000 to fund three existing Moose Jaw Police Service positions in 2018-19. This funding helps with police initiatives that ensure the safety of Moose Jaw families and our community overall. The funding for Moose Jaw includes positions in the Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan division, which works to improve safety on the highways through increased awareness and enforcement of traffic regulations.
In November, our partnership with the Government of Canada and Habitat for Humanity helped another Moose Jaw family realize their dream of homeownership. Our investment in this build supports both our housing and poverty reduction strategies by ensuring Saskatchewan people in greatest need have access to affordable, safe, secure and stable housing.
I recently had the opportunity to celebrate the grand opening of the new Kinsmen Inclusion Centre in Moose Jaw. The Government of Saskatchewan provided $200,000 to Moose Jaw Families for Change for the project. The Kinsmen Inclusion Centre currently supports seven people with intellectual disabilities, with capacity to expand in the near future. The day program is wheelchair accessible and will offer a range of recreational and life skill activities.
Day programs play a valuable role in supporting people to be included in their communities and I want to applaud Moose Jaw Families for Change for being a part of creating an inclusive community right here in Moose Jaw.
In addition to serving the constituents of Moose Jaw Wakamow, I am pleased to continue in my role as Military Liaison for Saskatchewan. This fall our government announced that we will be moving forward with a new Legion and ANAVETS Support Program that will provide funding grants to Royal Canadian Legion branches and Army, Navy, Air Force Veterans (ANAVETS) units.
The $100,000 Legion and ANAVETS Support Program will assist with the important work of supporting veterans and keeping the memory of our fallen heroes. This will be implemented as part of the 2019-20 budget and will offer support to Legion branches and ANAVETS units in their efforts to serve veterans and community members throughout Saskatchewan.
Your Saskatchewan Party government is committed to standing up for Saskatchewan. This was our focus as we delivered on priorities for the economy and people of Saskatchewan throughout the fall sitting of the legislature. We outlined our plan to balance the budget in the spring, to fight the federal carbon tax, and to invest in services and infrastructure across the province.
While we face many challenges in our province, one thing is certain: Saskatchewan people are determined, resilient and resourceful. Our government will always reflect those qualities as it stands up for our province and works to build a stronger Saskatchewan.
If you have questions, concerns or comments, or if you need assistance with a provincial government issue, contact me at 306-694-1001 or visit us at 404 B Lillooet Street West in Moose Jaw. I will also be hosting an Open House at my MLA office on Dec 20th between 3pm-6pm. If you are able, please stop by.