Many promises
Yet another complaint from Stephen Harper bemoaning the inability of Canada’s “new” government to circumvent parliamentary democracy and a Charlottetown promise to do so, “one way or another.”
That’s just what this country needs – a prime minister with no respect for the rule of law and ignorant of the legal process.
The prime minister insists his government has been clear on the (Canadian) Wheat Board and perhaps it has, but only since it became the government.
Conservative campaign rhetoric focused on: 1. Preventing same-sex marriage. Still around; 2. Ending the gun registry. Still around, awkward as ever; 3. No change to taxes on income trusts. Oops, slipped on that one; 4. Open government. Didn’t sound like today’s PMO-controlled regime; and 5. Liberal advertising scandals. Only Liberals investigated that one.
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Determining tariff compensation will be difficult but necessary
Prime minister Mark Carney says his government will support canola farmers, yet estimating the loss and paying compensation in an equitable fashion will be no easy task, but it can be done.
Not one headline promise kept, yet Harper insists the Conservatives must deliver on this single, fine-print, back-page pledge to dismantle the CWB.
One wonders to whom this most sacred campaign commitment was made. And why.
– Don Thompson,
Calgary, Alta.
Road renovation
We have been advised through a Rural Municipality of Fertile Valley, Sask., newsletter that Highway 44 from Dinsmore to Macrorie will be reverted back to gravel.
I’m not going to try to find colourful words or fancy alliteration to describe my opinion on this action. It’s just plain stupid.
The Department of Highways says that due to “low traffic count” and other reasons, this is the solution to the deterioration. Well, the old saying fits: which came first, the chicken or the egg? One might think that a well-maintained road would invite vehicle traffic.
Also, I would venture to say that with zero maintenance for the past couple of years and minimum maintenance prior to that, any road might deteriorate. I question the diligence in grading a gravel surface and plowing in the winter months with our experience in the maintenance of an asphalt surface.
Highway 44 extends from the Alberta border through the province to Davidson, offering a corridor as an option to see the western portion of this province on a highway other than a four-lane expressway. We should expect nothing less than a top-notch road.
The tenders are out for the roadwork. Perhaps there might be hope if we count on poor response and lack of action to get this job done. It seems we have another issue on our hands to add to school closures, elevator demolition, rail line abandonment, rural depopulation, etc.
So folks, get your letter writing skills going and let your fingers do the dialing and voice an opinion.
– Annette Beattie,
Dinsmore, Sask.
CNR golf
One just has to be amazed at how Canadian National Railway can throw their money so freely to the Canadian Women’s Open Golf tournament in Edmonton.
This is a huge amount of money they are doling out just to have their name advertised on TV, radio and the papers.
This is especially annoying when you have to cross all the crossings on the Alliance subline from Camrose to Alliance and they are absolutely disgusting. Most of them have no planks left in them anymore.
I think they could spend our money in the end much better by fixing the crossings. I have nothing against golf but when it comes to the safety of the people living along this branch line, you have to wonder about how CNR thinks.
Oh right, it’s called huge profit at the expense of everyone else. As far as advertising, CNR, how else do you think all the commodities will get to and from the coast?
– Ken Fordice,
Galahad, Alta.
New stuff
According to the Regina Leader-Post, the premier of Saskatchewan has just taken delivery of a new car and new teeth. The new mid-sized Saturn is an environmentally friendly hybrid that sips gasoline, and produces little emission.
If the premier should ever decide to visit some of his rural constituencies, however, he would be best to choose a four-wheel drive pickup with an off-road kit.
Many highways, including No. 43 west of Gravelbourg, resemble the surface of the moon, and seem equally as far from Regina when budget time rolls around.
The mid-sized hybrid may be a good choice of vehicle for driving on the smooth and often freshly paved streets of Regina. Given the latest crime statistics in Regina, however, an armoured car might not be a bad choice.
Most leaders in positions of power usually choose a Lincoln, Cadillac or Mercedes limo.
God help us that anyone should ever believe that there is wealth in Saskatchewan.
My dad used to tell a story about a farm boy who was a CCF (Co-operative Commonwealth Federation) supporter, and who went to visit his cousin in Montana. Saturday night, the two young men made their way to Billings to check out the attractions.
As they were walking down the street, a guy drove by in a Lincoln Continental V-12. The Montana lad exclaimed, “someday I’m going to own one of them fancy automobiles.”
The socialist farmer replied, “someday, that guy will be walking, just like we are tonight.”
As for the premier’s new teeth, he will be needing them soon. … If the polls are accurate, Mr. Calvert and the NDP are about to bite the dust.
– John Hamon,
Gravelbourg, Sask.
Witch’s brew
David Anderson’s latest “report” is a witch’s brew of speculation, misinformation and conspiracy theories.
Over the recent past, Anderson has accused the (Canadian) Wheat Board of “illegal and corrupt activities,” a charge that he refused to repeat outside the House of Commons where he could be sued.
Some time later, Anderson went on to say that the National Farmers Union was controlled by the NDP. I challenged him to a public debate, anytime and anywhere, on the subject of who controls the NFU.ÂÂ
Anderson turned tail and ran.
It was Anderson’s backside that appeared again when the NFU challenged him several times last year to a public debate on CWB issues.
And now in his latest “report,” Anderson accuses the NFU and Stewart Wells of being controlled by big business – this would be the Cargills of the world – and the CWB.
It’s odd that he has missed an opportunity to work the CIA and the FBI into his conspiracies.
Another recent allegation in the same “report” is that the Friends of the CWB are “aided by the CWB.” This is a serious allegation and as parliamentary secretary with special responsibilities for the CWB, he must present his proof. Otherwise this is just another conspiracy theory ….
– Stewart Wells,
President,
National Farmers Union,
Swift Current, Sask.
Jelly beans
Does prime minister (Stephen) Harper really think that Canadians will believe him when he says that the Security and Prosperity Partnership meeting at Montebello, Que., was about mundane issues like standardizing the quality of jelly beans?
It’s not jelly beans that Canadians are worried about. It is the reality that important decisions affecting energy security, water exports, environment, foreign policy, food, health, labour and safety standards and other issues that could put Canada at a disadvantage and impinge on its sovereignty, are being made surreptitiously, without public and parliamentary debate.
Big business, represented by the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, was not barred from the meeting. In a paper made public in April 2004, entitled New Frontiers, the CCCE proposed a North American partnership based on five objectives. The first was “reinventing borders.”
Also included were: “forging new institutions to improve management of the relationship; enhancing energy and resource security; maximizing regulatory efficiencies; and strengthening the defence and security alliance.” These objectives can easily be interpreted to mean Canadian sovereignty will be seriously affected.
One has to wonder whether Canada is being governed by Parliament, or by the CCCE?
– William Dascavich,
Edmonton, Alta.
