Battlefords Chamber of Commerce Chief Operating Officer Linda Machniak, shown left, and the Town of Battleford's Mayor Ames Leslie, right. (file photos/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Election reaction

Mixed reaction in Battlefords to election outcome

Sep 22, 2021 | 11:09 AM

Local community leaders and advocates are hopeful the needs of business and the community will see more support, following this week’s federal election results.

The Town of Battleford’s Mayor Ames Leslie said he was not surprised with the election results overall.

“It was my prediction to see a renewed minority [Liberal] government,” he said. “I am kind of a little bit surprised by some of the small changes within the Conservatives, and the Bloc Québécois and the NDP.”

Leslie added he thought the Conservatives would have pulled in more seats than they did across the country.

He noted the Maverick Party and the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) success in gaining a number of votes out west sends a strong statement.

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“I think it’s a message that the Conservative Party of Canada needs to pay attention to,” Leslie said. “It didn’t cost them any seats, I don’t think. But definitely [the Mavericks and PPC] made a splash that’s for sure.”

He added he hopes Prime Minister Justin Trudeau notices and takes the initiative “to try to change the sentiment out here, and try and make a difference for the people.”

Leslie said his big concern going forward is making sure the Building Canada Fund is able to continue to provide support for the Town of Battleford’s infrastructure needs in the future. He hopes the town can continue to apply for the funding from the federal government, to help alleviate the taxation cost to the municipality’s residents.

“If that program goes away, then we will definitely be joining the advocacy to make sure the federal government is helping out small communities within the province of Saskatchewan,” he said.

Battlefords Chamber of Commerce Chief Operating Officer Linda Machniak said the chamber remains non-partisan on all elections.

“The people of Canada have spoken, so we will continue to work with this government,” she said.

She said she believes there will be a great deal of work ahead for government in the next Parliament to focus on.

“I know the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has already put out a note that Canadians want the politicians to get back to work on issues that matter,” Machniak said.

She added there are a number of issues the Canadian Chamber are concerned about.

“The public finances of course are stretched to the max; and what they are concentrating on is growing business that hires Canadians and gets them back to work,” Machniak said.

She said the Canadian Chamber also wants to see the federal government focus on extending the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy and Rent Subsidy programs to support the hardest hit sectors, during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

As well, they hope the government will accelerate the deployment of a harmonized system of digital health credentials across the country, and provide legal certainty for companies on their risks and obligations.

“There’s lots of things I know they are talking about,” Machniak said.

The City of North Battleford’s mayor could not be reached for comment.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW