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Without him, or any other Liberal MPs, the Trudeau government will have to figure out a way to understand what’s happening in Regina and Saskatchewan on the ground level, the mayor added.

Fougere says the wave of Conservative wins that blanketed the province in blue on Monday is a sign the West feels disconnected.

“Any prime minister wants to bring the country together to ensure that all regions are represented properly and fairly, and what has happened in Saskatchewan is a statement that more needs to be done,” he said.

Photo by BRANDON HARDER / Regina Leader-Post

Saskatchewan is concerned about its future, he added — including the economy, the oil and gas industry and more specifically the Trans Mountain Pipeline — and any uncertainly around those issues isn’t something people want to see right now.

Infrastructure remains a key issue for Regina in the wake of the election, despite a disappointing lack of discussion around it during the campaign period, said Fougere.

“The amount of detail is wanting,” he said, noting that both main parties were at least committed to honouring current applications, but added that given how fundamental infrastructure is to the health of communities, he would have liked more information.

During Goodale’s time in office, he drove federal support for big projects like the renovation of Globe Theatre and the old University of Regina Campus, and the revitalization of the former CP rail yard.

He was also a big part of making Regina’s Big Dig — the project to deepen Wascana Lake — happen back in 2004.

Fougere credits Goodale’s support with helping move Regina forward, he said. Considering that legacy, he hopes the federal government’s infrastructure support continues.

“I think this is a message to the government now, the minority Liberal government, that we want to be understood and have our needs addressed,” Fougere said of Monday’s election results.

“Hopefully the prime minister understands that they are significant issues facing our economy, our province.”

jackerman@postmedia.com