With the ongoing Legislative Session it is sometimes difficult for MLAs to be always available to respond to constituent concerns. Given this fact we rely on excellent and competent Constituency Assistants. I am grateful to have Tina Durbin and Audrey McEwen in my office. I want to thank them for the excellent job they do in managing the office and seeing to it that constituency issues are dealt with in a prompt and professional manner.

Once the Legislative Session is complete for the week, it is always a relief to get home to the farm, the office and out to constituency events. I had the pleasure recently of attending the Kipling Home and Agro Show, the Moosomin Chamber Community Recognition Dinner, Whitewood and Grenfell Dinner Theatres and Moosomin Nursing Home Volunteer Coffee Party as well as meeting constituents on the street.

It was quite fitting, given the recent explosion which took place in the community of Nipawin that the Moosomin Chamber of Commerce recognized their local Volunteer Fire Department and its volunteers for their contribution to the safety and well being of the residents in Moosomin and surrounding area. As we heard, firefighters and emergency responders did a fabulous job in responding to the emergency brought on by the explosion,

It is only fitting that we take a moment to say thank you to the many men and women who volunteer their time to serve in community fire departments and as emergency responders. We must not forget as well, to thank the many businesses who make the allowances necessary for volunteer firefighters to respond to emergency needs.

This past week the government announced details regarding the graduate retention program for university grads. Graduates who agree to work in Saskatchewan can qualify for a refundable income tax credit to rebate up to $20,000.00 in tuition fees. Legislation enabling the program was introduced in the Legislature this week. Through the Graduate Rebate Program, young people have one more reason to build their futures and careers in Saskatchewan. For complete details, go to http://aeel.gov.sk.grp.

Saskatchewan’s government now has an expiry date, while gift cards don’t as a result of the passage of the first pieces of legislation tabled by this new government. The newly passed laws include a law setting fixed election dates as the first Monday in November, every four years. The next election is November 7, 2011. Among the other bills passed into law was legislation eliminating expiry dates on gift cards.

I close by complimenting the Provincial Government for coming forward with $440,000.00 to process pork that was originally under the cull sow program scheduled to be buried. This meat will go a long way in helping food banks provide nutritional grocery hampers to those who, due to no fault of their own, must rely on the services of food banks to meet their needs.

If you have any concerns please call my office at 435-3329; 1-888-255-8684 or visit my web site at www.dontoth.ca.