Battlefords MLA Cockrill reflects on 2025, says ‘there’s more work to do’

“But it means we’re subject to trade trends as well.”

Cockrill said those pressures were felt locally by farmers and businesses, as well as at the provincial level, with Saskatchewan engaging directly with countries such as China and India to reopen trade pathways.

“I do think some of that trade uncertainty really has been a challenge this year and not just with the United States,” he said.

Despite those pressures, Cockrill said 2025 was also marked by growing cooperation at the local level in the Battlefords.

“I think I’ve been incredibly impressed with the kind of unity and relationships that there has been among local leadership at a municipal and provincial level,” he said, pointing to collaboration between the City of North Battleford and the Town of Battleford.

“Even just seeing how the two mayors have been working together to advance interest for the Battlefords, I think, has been really encouraging as a local resident,” he said.

Jeremy Cockrill, MLA for the Battlefords and Saskatchewan’s minister of health, poses for a photo outside his office in North Battleford. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

One of the clearest examples of progress he highlighted was the announcement of a Saskatchewan Marshals Service regional headquarters in the Battlefords — the second such office in the province.

“That’s so important in terms of getting the bad guys off our streets, getting drugs off our streets, and making sure that people feel safe in our community,” Cockrill said.

He noted the service is temporarily operating out of Eagle’s Landing, owned by Red Pheasant Cree Nation, calling it “an example of Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities working together.”

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“As we can add those resources in the Marshals, support the RCMP service, it means more boots on the ground and means all of us can feel safer walking to the park at night or being downtown,” he said.

As health minister, Cockrill said much of his focus this year has remained on expanding access to primary care, with a goal of ensuring everyone in Saskatchewan has access to a primary care provider by 2028.

“I’ve continued to be very encouraged at some of the work happening right around the province in terms of advancing primary care,” he said.

He pointed to increased family medicine residency seats, Saskatchewan’s first contract nurse practitioners and the launch of a physician assistant program at the University of Saskatchewan.

He said those initiatives are already having local impacts. In Wilkie, a full-time nurse practitioner has been hired. In the Battlefords, he said retention of family medicine residents has improved. In Meadow Lake, a physician assistant is helping stabilize emergency department coverage.

“That’s a really important step in ensuring stability at the facility and ensuring that people in Meadow Lake and the north have access to those emergency services so that they don’t need to drive further to Lloydminster or Prince Albert or North Battleford.”

At the same time, he acknowledged challenges remain.

“As much as I’m excited about some of the successes that we’ve had… there’ are still challenges there… I hear about those challenges on a regular basis,” he said.

“That’s exactly why we’re working so hard to address those challenges and make life better for people.”

Beyond health care, Cockrill said the proposed regional arena and event centre in North Battleford remains on his radar as local leaders continue seeking provincial and federal support.

“We are absolutely supportive of enhanced recreational facilities in all of our communities,” he said.

He pointed to Meadow Lake’s new rink as an example of how major projects were funded through cooperation between municipalities, the province and the federal government, noting the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) used for that project has since expired.

“We’ve been pushing the federal government that there needs to be a new program like that,” he said.

“We’ve said, yep, we’d be in if the federal government comes in with their third.”

Under ICIP, municipalities typically received roughly one-third of project costs from the province, about 40 per cent from the federal government, and covered the remaining share locally. Should a renewed program be approved, an $80.2-million regional arena could see about $32 million from Ottawa, $26.7 million from the province and roughly $21.4 million covered locally.

Affordability also continued to weigh heavily on households, he said.

“Every household is feeling some level of an affordability squeeze,” Cockrill said, citing housing costs, rent and groceries. He said governments face an ongoing challenge in balancing affordability with maintaining services.

“I think it’s important to remember, while we still have those challenges, we still live in the most affordable province in Canada,” he said.

Looking ahead to 2026, Cockrill said housing supply will remain a priority, particularly to attract and retain young families.

“Saskatchewan year-to-date has led the country in housing starts, but there’s no doubt that we need more housing in our communities, right?”

Cockrill said the province and the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation are reviewing how housing assets held by local housing authorities can be better used to improve access to housing.

“I think that’s an area where some good progress has been made, but there’s more work to do.”

When it comes to balancing his cabinet role with local advocacy, Cockrill said his focus remains firmly rooted in the Battlefords.

“For me, the Battlefords always come first,” he said. “Nobody’s going to speak more positively about the Battlefords than me.”

As the calendar turns to 2026, Cockrill said his message to residents is one of cautious optimism.

“There’s always more work to do,” he said.

“As we continue to try and keep life affordable and keep our communities safe, there’s more work to do in that space. Certainly myself and residents of the Battlefords can count on myself and the provincial government to keep working in that space.”

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com

by Kenneth Cheung

Battlefords MLA Cockrill reflects on 2025, says ‘there’s more work to do’

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