Another year is over. And with its conclusion, we have reason to look ahead to what 2025 will bring.
One of the biggest stories I'm looking forward to is the ongoing MRI for Estevan campaign. When it started in late March, it was at $2 million of its $6.5 million goal; the $2 million was contributed by Elaine Walkom in memory of her late husband Grant. As of the Mercury's press time, the total was at $4.57 million.
When the provincial government gave the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation the green light earlier this year to start fundraising for the MRI, the Mercury said it was up to us to prove we wanted the machine. Well, we've sent the message loud and clear that this is something we know we need.
Hopefully, the southeast can reach the $6.5 million objective in 2025, the project can continue to make progress and we can celebrate the opening of the MRI before too long because we likely all know someone who will benefit.
I'm also looking forward to finding out the proposed site for the small modular reactor (SMR) for the Estevan area, whether it be alongside Boundary Dam or Rafferty Dam. Once that announcement is made, the tough part begins for us: the waiting game associated with an approval process that could take four years. It's a baffling concept for those of us on the outside.
I know there's still some trepidation associated with SMRs, but this isn't your conventional nuclear power. And while an SMR won't employ as many people as Boundary Dam, if it goes ahead, it's the closest thing we have to a silver bullet from a job creation and economic development perspective once coal-fired power is phased out – whenever that happens.
And the construction process will create a five to 10-year economic boom for our region.
I'm looking forward to the completion of the downtown revitalization project. It's been a source of frustration for a lot of people. There are those who were opposed to it from the outset, and the challenges that occurred during construction have only reinforced their disdain.
Ultimately, we'll see how it looks when it's finished. Some of the wants didn't come to fruition. For it to work from an economic development perspective – and that is going to be the pass-fail barometre of this project – we're going to need more businesses in the downtown area that are destinations or attractions.
I'm looking forward to seeing how Estevan city council handles its first full year. You could see the inexperience of members showing in the first two meetings. Now they get the crash course that is city budget time.
If people have concerns about the budget, I hope they take the time to talk with council members or city administration, rather than wasting their time by thinking social media is good enough.
And I'm looking forward to further discussions about recreation facilities in our community and how they will be constructed. People voted no to a third ice surface in a plebiscite in November, but that doesn't mean the concept is dead. It does mean council has to tread carefully on this project, particularly when it comes to spending any taxpayer dollars.
I'm looking forward to continued progress on Estevan's new regional nursing home. The ground-breaking in September was nearly a decade in the making. Frankly, it should have happened much sooner.
I'm hopeful that some of the projects discussed by the Â鶹´«Ã½AVeast TechHub come to fruition. Those who understand economic development know that it moves with all of the speed of a tectonic plate. But it would be encouraging to have some of the much-discussed projects come to fruition. If coal-to-graphite and the hydrogen hub happen, then it'll help keep coal mining in the southeast through 2030, regardless of what the current government thinks.
Which brings me to one other reason to look forward to 2025: a federal election. I wasn't too keen on it when I was staring provincial and civic elections in the face. But now that those are over, I get to look forward to another trip to the polls.
I'm not going to tell you how to vote in the next federal election. Not my job. And I don't vote for a party or its leader. I vote for the local candidate. But a change in the prime minister's job is long overdue. As of this publication's press time, Justin Trudeau was still in the role. Chrystia Freeland's ouster as finance minister, and her subsequent response, are the latest examples of why Trudeau's reign of error has to end.
We know 2025 is going to go by quickly.
And before you know it, we'll be writing a column about why you should be looking forward to 2026.
