Yorkton-Melville Member of Parliament Garry Breitkreuz spoke to Yorkton This Week in December about his year in Ottawa and the prospects of 2011.
The Conservative governmentThe global recession, says Breitkreuz, offered up both his government's biggest challenge and its greatest accomplishments in 2010.
"We responded quickly to the crisis with what's called Canada's Economic Action Plan, under which nearly 430,000 jobs were created since July 2009."
But the recession's effects are not over yet, acknowledges the MP.
"We still have challenges. The global economic situation is still very fragile and we still have a high unemployment rate, although it's lower than that of many other countries."
The Conservative government's "tough on crime" agenda is another block of legislation Breitkreuz is proud of. Among the bills, which are largely concerned with increasing punishments for various crimes, several have passed while others have been stalled by the opposition parties or by the government's own prorogation of Parliament.
Beyond Canada's borders, Breitkreuz names foreign aid projects and increased military funding as highlights of the year.
The MP sees the government's free trade initiatives as particularly important to the Yorkton-Melville constituency.
"This has been a strong boost to our economy, especially in the area of agriculture," he says.The government, he notes, is currently pursuing a closer economic relationship with China and free trade agreements with the European Free Trade Association, Columbia, Peru, Panama, Jordan, and India.
Events hosted in Canada in 2010--the Vancouver Olympics, the G8 and G20 Conferences--were also a boost to Canada's international relations, Breitkreuz believes.
Personal workPerhaps the most significant development specific to Breitkreuz and his constituency in 2010 was his election as chair of the Special Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan.
"That is quite an honor," he says. "This is a very difficult job, as we work on issues surrounding the war and making recommendations to the government."
From this seat, a promotion from his previous position as chair of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, Breitkreuz helps guide the future direction of Canada's role in Afghanistan.
Disaster conditions in Saskatchewan agriculture occupied much of the MP's time in 2010."Bringing the prime minister to Yorkton to see the crisis firsthand was also an honor," he says. "This still continues to be a concern that I work on."
The attempted potash takeover was another major issue in the second half of the year.
"I wasn't really able to speak on it publicly," Breitkreuz says, but gives his assurance that he and other Saskatchewan MPs were advocating for the province's interests behind the scenes.
Breitkreuz, of course, had a significant role in creating a private member's bill that sought to kill the long gun registry in September. That bill was ultimately defeated in a narrow vote, but the MP vows not to give up his multi-decade crusade against the registry. The legislation, however, cannot be reintroduced until another election has passed.
"We are going to get rid of the gun registry. We have put in place an amnesty for the fourth year now on the gun registry, which is really all that we can do at this point."
The year aheadCanada's continuing recovery from the recession will be one of the top issues in Ottawa next year, says Breitkreuz.
"We are not out of the woods, so we are going to have to watch this very carefully. We have to control government spending and make sure we don't increase taxes. That's one of the best things we can do."
The spring is likely to bring more challenges in agriculture, as well.
"With all the snow we've had, the moisture conditions are still going to be a real problem for farmers. So I'm going to be closely monitoring that situation and letting the agriculture minister and the prime minister know what's happening."
Other priorities of 2011 for the Conservatives include pushing through the remainder of their crime legislation and establishing new barriers against illegal immigrants. In the longer term, Breitkreuz says the government hopes to achieve a balanced budget by 2015.
Garry Breitkreuz wraps up with a message to his constituents.
"I look forward to continuing to do my best to represent Yorkton-Melville in Ottawa, and always appreciate suggestions from anybody in the riding. I wish everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year."
