“I’ve been working hard with the Secretary of Justice to ask the federal government to stop this catch and release program that we have for criminals, we need more sentencing and we also need bail reform. So I need to start that process over again because I’ve been working closely on these two cases.” “We lost the two ministers I worked with,” he said.

It’s easy to hire 17 more cops but when they get them (criminals) in and they get out just as fast, so we have to work in two different areas. “I believe the government has stepped up and given us the police officers we need, but now with the three MLAs we have and the new ministers we must work even harder to continue to pressure the federal government to change the laws.”

Even in cases where the city is able to communicate changes to the state government, a cabinet reshuffle could make things more difficult to fine-tune those laws to better serve the public.

One example of this is the recently changed regulations regarding bear spray in the state, which Mayor Dionne worked to change with former Attorney General Eyre. Although changes have been passed that do not allow bear spray to be carried in public places, that has not reduced the number of incidents, and Dionne said they are already working to fix that law before the state election.

“So I’ll have to start all over again with that file. We have moved into phase one where carrying is now illegal in city centres, but this has not slowed down its use. We saw it in Saskatoon the other day, someone sprayed one of the transit buses. Therefore, our next step will be to prevent sales in the bear spray market.”

The city has three MLAs to work with the most; Alana Ross is serving her second term in Prince Albert-Northcote and the new MLAs are Kevin Kasun of Prince Albert-Carlton and Eric Schmalz of Saskatchewan Rivers.

Overall, in the first time MLAs have not been given cabinet positions, Dionne is hopeful there will be two from the Prince Albert area.

If that’s the case, Dionne thinks it should not only help lobby the Provincial Government for the changes Prince Albert residents want to see, but also at the federal level. With the threat of a federal election looming, Dionne believes the extra support for projects like the new arena could be huge.

“We have had very successful trips to Ottawa with our partners Woodland Cree to raise funds for the large arena, but what concerns me now is that the Parti Quebecois has said they will not support the government and that will fall,” Dionne said.

“If the government falls, we will suspend this project until after the new federal election, and then if there is a change in government, we will have to start all over again. “So it’s a never-ending race for us and sometimes we think we’re going in circles, but you can never give up because you have to do what’s best for society.”

The state government is currently completing the final count of the state election, but with over 99% of the votes counted, it doesn’t look like much will change. The cabinet will not be decided until the final votes are counted.

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