MOOSOMIN — It’s been an interesting year in the Yorkton-Melville riding, and MP Cathay Wagantall is hearing many concerns from those living in the area. Topping the list seem to be the $10 per day child care program, the dental program, and nationwide work stoppages.
Beginning with the daycare program, she says there are definite pros and cons with the current system. Affordable daycare is needed for families across the nation, and those in Yorkton-Melville are no different.
“That is a need that I have heard a lot about for a number of years,” Wagantall said of affordable daycare. “Obviously, where both parents are working, there is the need for good child care that is convenient as well as reasonably priced. There are some challenges with the program, there’s no doubt. One of the things I do hear from other daycare entrepreneurs who are in business—and most of them actually are women which is the demographic that the government wants to see employed more—they’re concerned because they said they can’t compete, and they’re not allowed to be part of that program, so they are closing their doors. I’ve had a couple call and say, ‘I can’t compete with that,’ so unfortunately, that takes away spaces.”
“Also, I’ve heard that these new daycare spaces are wonderful and there is funding there to assist,” she continued. “But of course, their expenses are greater than $10 per child per day, so they do have to fundraise. That’s all part of the non-profit sector, right? So they’re gearing up and figuring out how all of that will work together.”
As for the dental care program, Wagantall says the issue seems to be understanding what exactly is covered.
“There are people who cannot afford dental care, certainly seniors and low-income folks, those on disability, and so generally, the thought process, for me, is that it’s good that we provide for those who are not able.”
The past year has also been one of work stoppages with both of the country’s main railroad companies, the Port of Vancouver, and Canada Post enacting strike action to varying lengths.
“When I talk about farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and retailers that import and export for their business, the strike by both railways at the same time, and then the port strike, and now for four weeks, it’s the Canada Post strike, the stress levels for people who are land-locked, like Saskatchewan, whose businesses depend on moving, importing and exporting, you can’t even consider that from outside the province, let alone outside of the country,” Wagantall said. “Those strikes have put a lot of stress on people and the government did intervene after a certain amount of time, otherwise our economy just cannot handle those kinds of stressors right now.”
Another issue Wagantall pointed to was the federal government’s response to tariff threats from American president-elect Donald Trump. The actions would contribute to the resignation of federal finance minister Chrystia Freeland, and politicians from all parties calling for Justin Trudeau’s resignation as Prime Minister.
“Trudeau was responding to the leader of the U.S. by threatening export tariffs on our oil, potash, and uranium to the U.S.,” she said, adding she doesn’t understand the reasoning behind such threats. “We really do need to communicate and co-operate with our biggest friend, right across the largest border we have.”
In looking toward the future, Wagantall foresees a change in government, led by the Conservatives, and mused on some of the immediate changes that would happen.
“We believe that right now, the level of misuse of Canadian taxpayer dollars is so high that we’re in the midst of debating privilege over the fact that this slush fund has given so much money inappropriately to insiders and whatnot that they were supposed to provide all of the information on that to the House.”
Getting rid of the Carbon Tax is also high on the to-do list, as is changing gun control laws.
“Adding more firearms that law-abiding Canadians have access to is not going to stop the illegal smuggling that’s going across our borders,” Wagantall said.
Admittedly, sometimes the ideas and promises can sound like slogans, but Wagantall was quick to reassure there is work going on behind the scenes.
“Yes, they’re slogans, and Canadians can remember them, but I just want to assure the wonderful people of Yorkton-Melville that behind that slogan, every one of them, is an incredible amount of work going on to ensure that we know how to run government, what can be done and what should be done at what time,” she said. “It makes sure that we restore Canada back to its freedoms, to responsibilities of parents, to valuing family, all of these things that make Canada the place people want to come to.”
