Morris MLA says he’s learning on the job

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This article was published 18/02/2015 (4119 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Morris MLA Shannon Martin was overwhelmed by his tour of Tolko Industries kraft mill outside The Pas on Feb. 10.

“It’s amazing that they make a product that’s shipped all over the world,” he said.
Martin, 44, was visiting northern communities in his role as Conservation and Water Stewardship critic for the Progressive Conservatives.

Since his election as MLA for Morris on Jan. 28, 2014, Martin has been very busy meeting people and attending events throughout his large riding, which extends from Morris in the south to St. Francois Xavier in the north. Add to this the time he spends representing his constituents in the Manitoba legislature.

“It’s been a whirlwind of activities. It’s exceeded my expectations in every way,” he said.

While he’s enjoyed riding in parades and taking his family to summer fairs in
Morris communities, he said he’s seen a more serious side to his work as MLA. This came about in early July when landowners along the lower Assiniboine River scrambled to build and reinforce dikes to protect their property from floodwaters.

Martin said he saw local volunteers joined by Manitobans from other communities to pitch in where needed.

“It reinforces every good thing about our communities and our province,” he said.

During discussions with residents within the constituency, Martin said, there is a common theme: the need for improved infrastructure. This relates to concerns over highway traffic safety and the need to deal with reoccurring flooding along rivers.

Martin attended open houses in Portage la Prairie on provincial flood mitigations plans for the Assiniboine River, and said he met many of his constituents there. With communities within Morris located close to the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, Martin said there seems to be a need to deal with annual flooding on one or the other, and the costs involved are huge.

“Flooding is not just a Morris issue, it’s a Manitoba issue,” he said.

Entering his second year in provincial politics, Martin is looking forward to a provincial election.

“My goal is to represent Morris, and to represent Morris in government,” he said.

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