MP discusses pre-budget talks with constituents

Times Reporter

 

MP Kevin Sorenson made a stop in Strathmore on Jan. 24 for a pre-budget talk with constituents. Meetings were conducted in Oyen, Hanna, Strathmore, Stettler and Camrose so that he could get an idea of each community’s individual concerns and ideas. Sorenson said the Strathmore meeting was well attended, and people spoke on a number of issues. 

He heard about frustrations regarding the Idle No More protests, and suggestions about areas the government could be more proactive in. 

“What we heard over and above in all the meetings (is) that we hope that the government doesn’t run deficits and that we come back to get our budget balanced, and that’s what our intentions certainly are,” said Sorenson. 

“Some people are still concerned about the money we spend towards CBC, we heard that in Strathmore as well as a number of the other communities, and just areas where they feel we can watch what our spending is and perhaps see some savings in the new budget going forward.”

Mayors and councils from the different communities discussed their infrastructure needs and priorities and spoke of projects being undertaken. Economy is the number one priority as a government, said Sorenson. The economy is still tentative in Europe and in the United States, and the Canadian government wants to have good principles to go forward on when it comes to the budget making. One of those principles is watching the expenditures. 

“It’s not all about increasing revenues, sometimes it comes around to decreasing our expenditures. We have committed to no tax increases and so we really have to be cautious on where our spending goes,” said Sorenson.

“That’s why I ask my councils and I ask my municipal leaders whether it be county or communities ‘what are your priorities? Which ones are your number one, number two, number three priorities as far as projects that you want to see completed in your communities.” 

In some of the communities it may be water concerns and for others it’s roads. Strathmore has not given any indication that there are any major projects being applied for. 

“I felt that they were very beneficial meetings and I was very pleased to have it in Strathmore and now we’re back here and I’m taking a lot of what we heard in Strathmore and other communities in my constituency and I’m bringing it here to Ottawa,” said Sorenson.

“That’s the next phase of this, making sure the caucus and making sure the Finance Minister and the Prime Minister know what the constituents of Crowfoot are talking about and are concerned about.”