The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor Here is the second and final part of The Reminder's interview with Creighton and Denare Beach MLA Doyle Vermette. * * * REMINDER: In the recent Creighton Town Council election, one of the issues brought up was the lack of cellular coverage along the highway between Creighton and Smeaton. Some see this as a safety issue for Creighton area residents as well as individuals and business representatives who travel to this community. Do you share this concern? What have you done or what will you do to have SaskTel fill this cellular gap? VERMETTE: Poor cellular coverage is a serious issue in the Creighton area, for everyday families, for business and job-creation and for safety. For people travelling on our highways, which are too often in poor condition, the ability to get help via a cellphone is not just for safety, it can sometimes be a matter of life and death, Cellular service is also a vital part of business. My colleague from Athabasca, Buckley Belanger, who is the NDP's SaskTel critic, and I have raised this issue with the Sask. Party government and in the media as often as we can. Unfortunately, the Sask. Party is out of touch, unable to understand that upgrades in some areas haven't helped people and businesses in Smeaton, Creighton and other communities in the North. It is a top priority of your northern NDP MLAs to get reliable, complete cell service for northern regions. REMINDER: You are well aware of the social and economic challenges facing First Nations such as Pelican Narrows and Sandy Bay. This has of course been a problem for decades and decades. What specific new approaches do you advocate to change the course of our reserves? VERMETTE: Saskatchewan's New Democrats recognize the challenges faced by communities like Pelican Narrows and Sandy Bay. Issues such as access to adequate housing, comparable education and health services, a shortage of jobs and training opportunities, higher rates of youth suicide and a higher cost of living are ongoing challenges faced by our northern communities. I think making the Sask. Party aware of the unique challenges in northern communities would be a first step in convincing the government to take action. I know firsthand the devastation that the lack of services and opportunities have created. I think education and jobs training are critical to giving our First Nations youth and their reserves a better future. The NDP and I have called for the reinstatement of the Aboriginal Employment Development Program; further jobs and skills training for First Nations people and for Shannen's Dream. Shannen's Dream is a motion for on-reserve and off-reserve education to be equally funded. Today, reserve schools receive less funding, per student, than other schools. That disparity is fundamentally unfair. REMINDER: You were one of just nine NDP MLAs to survive the last election. Why is the party in such a weakened state and what can be done to turn the tide? VERMETTE: I am proud to be a part of the small NDP team of MLAs that is standing up for Saskatchewan people _ including northern people, who have been overlooked and abandoned by the Sask. Party. The NDP MLAs are a strong, passionate team and I am proud to work with them. See 'NDP...' on pg. 6 Continued from pg. 3 But the NDP team is much larger than our group of nine. In fact, everyday people from across the province are becoming a part of the official Opposition by contacting us with their concerns or ideas. For example, this fall a few rural residents called us to tell us about the Sask. Party's plan to scrap its wireless rural Internet service, abandoning rural families and small businesses. The Sask. Party's plan was in place, hidden, for more than 18 months. Because of those rural residents who called the NDP after learning about the changes, the NDP was able to address the issue head-on, on their behalf. As a result, their Internet has been saved from the Sask. Party's attack, for now. The NDP is also now in the middle of an exciting leadership race. With a number of young, talented candidates running to lead our party and new members signing NDP membership cards and joining the team every day, it's a great time to be a New Democrat. REMINDER: What are the best and worst parts of your job as MLA? VERMETTE: The best part of my job is meeting with the people who live in the Cumberland constituency; with community members over coffee or at events; with mayors and councils and with chiefs and councils who honour me with their advice and by sharing their people's concerns. The worst part of my job is watching the Sask. Party ignore the North. As throne speeches and budgets are tabled, the North is ignored time and again. A recent example is the Wollaston Lake road. The Sask. Party promised to follow through on the NDP's plan to build a road. They made that promise in 2008, but the Sask. Party broke that promise. The road still isn't done and roads like Wollaston Lake or the Pelican Narrows (road) _ which needs paving _ are passed over (with) each Sask. Party budget. The people of the North deserve better. REMINDER: Is there any other issue you would like to address? VERMETTE: I am proud to serve the people of Creighton and Denare Beach as your MLA. I encourage you and your neighbours to contact me with your thoughts, ideas, concerns or to tell me what your priorities are. Hearing from you is the most important part of representing your needs. I enjoyed the Meet Your MLA barbecue in Creighton in September, and I hope we can create more opportunities to come together.
