COLUMN: Report from the Legislature – People should come before party politics

A couple of weeks ago, I announced my decision to serve and seek re-election as an independent representative for Dawson Trail.

I made this decision to ensure that the people of Dawson Trail came before party politics, because they deserve an MLA who answers only to them. Families, farmers, small businesses, and municipalities in this region want and deserve a strong representative who is focused on local priorities, not directives from party headquarters.

Being an independent will afford me the freedom to work with any government who is going to deliver results and help move Dawson Trail forward. In the short time since I announced my decision, I have already seen these positive changes coming to fruition, as I have been able to have open and honest conversations with our government, ask tough questions, and ensure that I am getting answers for constituents.

For example, the government just announced the Ste Anne Hospital working group, which will be meeting to explore the regionalization of Hôpital Ste-Anne Hospital. The lack of regional designation for Hôpital Ste-Anne Hospital has been a major concern for the community of Ste Anne, as well as all the neighbouring communities who use its services. I am very excited to see that some steps are being made in moving this process forward, and I greatly appreciate the minister’s office for keeping me up-to-date and informed on this matter.

Another example is the government’s decision to approve an exception for how the Homeowners Affordability Tax Credit is received by eligible homeowners in Paradise Village. Paradise Village is a 55-plus community and prior to 2026, the tax credit had been applied directly to their municipal property tax bills. They were informed that for this year they would need to claim the credit when filing their income tax returns, which means they would have to pay the education tax portion upfront and then wait several months to receive a rebate. This became a big concern for many of the residents, as many of them are on fixed incomes and were worried about the financial hardship this decision would create. Fortunately, the government listened to and understood the community’s concerns, and chose to provide an exception to eligible homeowners for this year. I am glad to have been able to speak with the minister about this issue and help get it resolved for the residents of Paradise Village.

I am proud and honoured to serve the constituents of Dawson Trail, and I will continue standing up for them and ensuring that their voices are heard and their concerns are being addressed.