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Newly elected MLA planning office in Sylvan Lake

Recently elected Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Kerry Towle plans to open an office in Sylvan Lake in the near future.

Recently elected Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Kerry Towle plans to open an office in Sylvan Lake in the near future.

She told Sylvan Lake councillors about her initial experiences and plans for the future during their meeting May 14.

Orientation and training have filled her first days. “As caucus whip, I’ve been busy hiring assistants and getting caucus up and running,” said the Wildrose MLA.

She’s taken over the office space formerly used by former MLA Luke Ouellette in Innisfail but also promised to set up a second office in Sylvan Lake. “There will be an office here, it’s just a matter of timing.”

Noting she’s an opposition MLA, Towle said, “I don’t see it as a big concern. I see it as an opportunity to get the concerns of this riding straight to the Legislature floor.”

She talked about her party’s philosophy on free votes and said that bodes well for her “ability to stand up for the riding without problems from caucus”.

“We want to work cooperatively as one government.”

The intersection of Highways 781 and 11 is a priority for her. She’s asked for a meeting with Transportation Minister Ric McIver to discuss it.

She’s also “drafting a letter” to Health Minister Fred Horne about Sylvan Lake’s request for an urgent care centre.

Sylvan is unique because it grows so vastly in the summer months, she said. “Many residents here come to Innisfail to doctor, that clogs up Innisfail,” she said. “I plan to show him the benefits of relieving pressure.”

The long term care bed issue in Innisfail is another area she’ll be working on.

Towle concluded, “I’d like to increase my visibility in the riding. I’m here to be your voice. I work for you, you don’t work for me, it’s not top down. My office is open to your concerns. I see, in the next four years, my role is working for you.”

Towle also said she plans to continue to own her real estate brokerage office in Innisfail stating she’s built the business and team over the past six years and isn’t about to give it up.

“I’m pleased to here you speak of 781 and urgent care,” said Mayor Susan Samson. She indicated town staff had also put together a package for Towle which dealt with areas the town has been lobbying the provincial government about. Those include the departments of Environment, Sustainable Resource Development and Tourism, Parks and Recreation.

One of the concerns, said Samson, is the high lake level and what can be done about it.

As well, she said, “because of our work on Lakeshore, it’s important to have a close relationship with Tourism. We have been working with them but there needs to be more work.”