The MLA for Airdrie - Cochrane says that, so far, his first term has seen both its highlights as well as challenges.

Peter Guthrie says "From a personal perspective obviously I was happy to be elected, but I think the big thing about that was having my family and friends involved. My wife, kids, and friends all came together to help me, and that's been an amazing feeling."

Guthrie says that overall he's pleased with how quickly legislation has been put in place. "I was amazed at how quickly we could get legislation in place. How it gets administered through the bureaucracy may be a bit slower than I would like to see but I am pretty impressed with how quickly we're moving, we have a long session planned for the new year and there's a lot to come." 

He says another surprise for him has been the decorum, or lack thereof, in the legislature. "I was taken back by the opposition and how outlandish they can be at times. I always encourage people when we're sitting in session to check out the question period and to see how each party conducts themselves."

Guthrie says in regards to developments in Cochrane he would like to see some movement on the highway 1A and 22 projects as well as seeing some advancement on it in 2020 but he doesn't have a clear timeline for completion at this point.

 "During the archive dig they did find some materials, so they need to re-dig in a certain area and now that can't happen until the spring," Guthrie explains.  "So that does slow things. We have to get a report done and wait for it to come back before we get clearance to move ahead. I suspect that by the fall we can have that done and then go out to tender and then be actually ready to put shovels in the ground in the spring of 2021."

Guthrie says that the town of Cochrane is working with the provincial government and is optimistic about developments throughout Cochrane in the new year.

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