ELECTION 2016: Meet candidate Jeremy Harrison

CS: What can be done to reduce the crime rate in Meadow Lake and the surrounding communities our RCMP serve in?

JH: We have been working very closely with the city as the province in terms of expanding the HUB and core model that PA has very successfully pioneered and it has been moved to this community as well. What that means is trying to break down the silos between the agencies. Whether that be social services, health, RCMP, municipal entities, stake holder groups in the community. We’ve really worked hard on that and I think we’ve seen results as well. On top of that I would add that as a province, we’ve made a huge investment into policing in this community that is renewed yearly in the tune of $6 or $700,000 per year directly to the city for policing costs. I think the RCMP would say they are happy with where they are with the collaboration between the province, city and RM. We’ve made strides, we know there are challenges still but that being said I think we are doing a pretty good job.

CS: What’s your opinion of public-private partnerships?

JH: What we’ve seen over and over again whether it’s here in Saskatchewan or other jurisdictions which are utilizing P3’s. You end up saving money and end up with a project that is done on time and on budget. We’ve seen that over and over again in other jurisdictions, I mean other NDP governments have used P3’s in other provinces as well, very successfully I might add. We are very supportive of the model because we know it works and it saves tax payers money. It’s allowed us to build 18 new schools right now. The Regina city bypass which I think is the single largest capital infrastructure project in the history of the province. I know the other guys want to shut the project down but that would delay the project by two years, add over a billion dollars in costs and obviously not have it brought in on time. So we think that’s a misguided approach, I know they’ve been talking about elements of that but we are going forward with it, construction is underway on the Regina bypass and in terms of P3’s in a more general sense we’ve seen some very good results.

CS: Given the importance of the vast industry sectors in this area, what would you do to improve conditions for ranchers, farmers, logging, fishing and hunting?

JH: As Enterprise Minister at one juncture and Trade Minister for four or five years and Minister of Jobs I’ve had a lot to do with these files over the last seven years. I think we have made tremendous strides in working with industry who provide employment and provide economic opportunity for others in the North West and right across the province. In terms of our agriculture sector we have seen a massive increase in the volume of production, in the exports that have been sent around the world from this province. We’ve made significant investments into innovation to improve crop varieties, heartiness, and making the growing season shorter. In terms of the forestry sector we have worked really closely with the companies here. We’ve provided an FMA to Tolko and Meadow Lake OSB which I think is secured. There is long term viability of that particular operation, which was very shaky prior to us forming government. We’ve worked very closely in terms of co-generation on power projects which is moving forward. I know discussions are continuing on how we can make that project continue and make it as viable as it can be. We have worked closely with the agriculture sector, the forestry sector, and other areas of the economy as well. We know that Ag production and natural resource extractions are very important parts of our economy along with the energy sector as well which has been very hard hit. We’re continuing to work closely with those sectors and we know this is the way to provide economic activity; jobs, we created opportunity and we created 60,000 jobs since we formed government and what that means is our young people don’t have to leave Saskatchewan to find opportunity, they could find opportunity right here.

CS: Given the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s findings, does our education system adequately teach students about residential schools and First Nations issues in general? What more can be done?

JH: One of the first things we did when we formed government was to introduce treaty education into primary schools as a part of the curriculum. That had never been the case before, I know when I went to school here in Meadow Lake that wasn’t the case. So that was one of the first things we did and I think that’s provided benefits for understanding in terms of treaty issues. With regard to the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, I guess I would add that even by way of background. When I was an MP I actually did a lot of work on this, I was the vice-chair of the Aboriginal Affairs Committee in Ottawa. Jim Prentice (Former Premier of Alberta and current MLA) and I were the two Conservatives that were the leads on the file and I would say the report we put together in the lead up to the 2004 election was to many degrees the basis on which the Conservative government afterwards proceeded with regard to putting forward the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, putting forward the payments for Residential School Survivors. There’s work to be done, without question but to be fair a lot of these issues are purely Federal jurisdiction. But in terms of my commitment as Jobs Minister we actually have provided very significant funding on reserves for training. Adult basic education particularly. Which had never been the case before, and we’re the only province in Canada where provincial funding is used on a reserve for job training and adult basic education. That was an initiative that I undertook, and that our government has undertook so I think we’re making progress and I want to see greater First Nations engagement in the economy. We still have areas of the economy where we have labor shortages and challenges so that means an all of the above approach and a big part of that is training and making aboriginals ready for the workforce in the province.

CS: Where do you stand on how we provide temporary shelter for the homeless, ie the Lighthouse, women’s shelter?

JH: We provide significant funding for shelters. I know this is a hot button issue in some of the larger centres, who have needs that are perhaps larger than what we would find here. That’s not to say we don’t have challenges here in Meadow Lake and other communities. There are groups that do a very good job of that, the Door of Hope does some wonderful work and we work very closely with them. So there are groups and organizations, and frankly individuals who do some very good work, who are very committed to addressing some of the challenges that are had in the short and long terms. We as a government have supported organizations, largely through third parties, and that’s the way I think we’ve seen the best results. Rather than just government agencies doing it, we partnered with CBO’s and other groups to deliver some of these services and I think there’s more work to be done, there always is and frankly there will always be more work to be done. We are committed to addressing it and doing what we can to alleviate some of the issues that people are struggling with.

CS: What are some of the pros and cons of privatizing liquor stores and adding more vendors to the area?

JH: What I think you’re going to see, even here in Meadow Lake… people are very aware of what you would see in a private store or outside of Saskatchewan, in Alberta or outside of Canada. I think the public is far ahead of where politicians are on liquor privatization. I’ve heard positive things, the biggest calls we got when we announced this initiative was how can I open up a franchise or open up a vendor? So another important thing to remember is the majority of liquor distribution done right now in Saskatchewan is privately done through vendors. The Meadow Lake store will remain in SLGA hands but we’re going to be moving forward with more opportunities for individuals to open stores. We’re changing how the licencing requirements work so it will eliminate some of the weird differentiations between different licences. What it will ultimately result in is more choice, lower price and more convenience.

CS: Is enough being done to recognize issues with mental health? What more can be done?

JH: That’s a challenging series of issues. I think there has been a real level of commitment there and I think there’s been an increasing level of public awareness on mental health challenges and I think an increase of public acceptance. That’s going to be a big part of how we’re going to be successfully addressing some of these issues going forward. Mental Health issues are just as real as having a broken leg or a physical disability of some sort that can be managed and addressed. So I think that’s a big part of it. Education is going to be a component of that. Also having people willing to confront those issues and I think that having the stigma associated with mental health lessened is going to be an important part as well.

CS: Premier Brad Wall is against a federal tax on carbon emissions, saying it is far too costly to the Saskatchewan economy. If not a carbon tax, what can the province do to combat emissions, especially from its two biggest emitters – SaskPower and SaskEnergy?

JH: We’re taking real concrete steps. If you look at carbon taxes which have been introduced in other jurisdictions, they have nothing to do with reducing the amount of carbon going into the atmosphere. Nothing, they are taxes, revenue measures, they’re not actually having any impact on behavior with respect to reduction of carbon. So we’re doing something real, the carbon capturing storage facility at Boundary Dam has actually made a real difference in terms of reducing the amount of carbon going into the atmosphere by a very large and quantifiable amount. I think it’s taken the equivalent of 150,000 vehicles off the road. And, when you look at the number of coal producing facilities that are going to be built around the world in the foreseeable future, this is the sort of project that reduces carbon emissions by 98 per cent. It could have a very real impact not just in this province but around the world by selling the technology to other jurisdictions who will be able to utilize that technology to reduce emissions and all other pollutants that come out of burning coal. Our view is there is a real future for coal so we’re going to continue with the use of coal as a part of our power generation mix in the province. Other jurisdictions have taken a different view which is going to result in very large increases in their utility rates. So we are committed to continuing with cleaning coal up and exporting that technology around the world which would have a very real impact on reducing emissions. There are others who have taken the carbon tax approach and we have been very clear in saying that’s not something we are interested in.

CS: At what point would a disagreement with your party result in your resignation?

JH: (Laughing) I can assure you I will never be a New Democrat. I’m very committed to my party, very committed to working with the Premier who I’ve had the great pleasure of working with and knowing for almost 20 years now, since I’ve been a teenager. I’ve had a wonderful opportunity to get to work with him, before that I had a wonderful opportunity to work with the former Prime Minister (Stephen Harper). I just couldn’t foresee a circumstance where something like that would even be a consideration. It’s been a great honor serving as the MLA for Meadow Lake, the Cabinet in Saskatchewan for many years and a great honor holding a number of portfolios and having the opportunity to serve in that way and being able to deliver results because of that.

cswiderski@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @coltonswiderski

by Colton Swiderski

ELECTION 2016: Meet candidate Jeremy Harrison

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