Jeremy Patzer visits Kindersley

By Joan Janzen

Approximately two dozen people met with Jeremy Patzer, MP for Cypress Hills-Grasslands, at the Elks Hall in Kindersley on Thursday evening, March 14th. The town hall meeting was an opportunity to discuss issues of concern regarding the federal government with Jeremy.

Jeremy Patzer, MP for Cypress Hills-Grasslands, held a town hall meeting Thursday evening, March 14th where he met with people from the area. Photo by Joan Janzen

“First and foremost, my job is to understand your concerns and to represent you in Ottawa,” Jeremy said. The meeting was very casual, and a conversation began to unfold among the people present.

The online harms bill was a primary concern. “We should deal with protecting minors separately, and it shouldn’t be tied in with something else,” Jeremy said.

One topic led to another. “I’ve worked on the natural resource committee for a year and a half. The government’s net zero would be devastating for rural areas and Saskatchewan and will negatively affect mining and forestry,” he explained.

A significant amount of time was spent discussing the carbon tax. “At the very least, we’re trying to get them to stop the increase this year,” he said. Seven of ten provincial premiers have called on the federal government to scrap its planned carbon tax increase.

“I think we’ve used 90 percent of our opposition days on various aspects of the carbon tax. People all across the country are getting a sense of how much carbon tax they pay and how it drives up inflation.”

A farmer in attendance said his last utility bill showed the carbon tax amounted to more than the cost of the natural gas. It was obvious those in attendance had a lot of concerns for the well being of our country.

Nevertheless good things are happening in Saskatchewan. Jeremy had just come from Eston where he visited the Village of Hope. It’s an example of what a community of people can do to bring positive change.