MLA meets with Wheatland Council

Times Contributor

 

Jason Hale, MLA for Strathmore/Brooks constituency, met with Wheatland Council to discuss issues affecting the residents of the area. He is dropping in to towns and villages in the area to get acquainted with the people sitting on the different councils.

“We are currently getting oriented as to where we are at in Edmonton. We have had the first sitting with the speaker and the address to the throne,” said Hale.

Hale has found office space in Strathmore and will tentatively be in Strathmore two days a week and in Brooks two days a week, when not attending sessions of government. 

“My job now is to represent this area, regardless of the side of the house I am sitting on. Our official stance is to get along and build relationships with ministers. Realistically, we will not always agree on everything,” Hale said.

As Opposition Energy Critic, he met with the Alberta Energy Minister, where they agreed to share ideas and to support what is best for the oil industry.

Council asked how they could voice their concerns in government. Hale replied that the council should still go through traditional channels addressing the appropriate government committee members and ministers. 

He will be available to attend meetings with the various members on invitation from the council and help find resolutions to their problems. If unavailable to attend the meeting, he asked council to keep him in the loop about issue developments and he will make an appointment to discuss solutions with the appropriate people. 

Council outlined the various municipal partnerships that Wheatland County is involved in and targeted a few issues such as water resources and finding a voice outside of the Calgary Regional Partnership. 

The county is taking measures ensure their voice is heard by forming their own partnership called Wheatland Regional Water Partnership which would include Rockyford, Hussar, Standard and possibly Okotoks.