Creative addition
In the recent (federal) throne speech, the Harper government said it will “insure the freedom of choice for which western barley farmers overwhelmingly voted” (WP, March 11).
This is an absolutely false claim stemming from the results of the Harper government’s 2007 barley plebiscite. This plebiscite was typically Conservative: misleading and full of half truths.
Farmers selected from one of three options: 1. the CWB’s single desk; 2. I would like the option to market my barley to the CWB or any other domestic or foreign buyer; 3.the CWB should not have a role in the marketing of barley.
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Results: 37.8 percent voted for option one, 48.4 percent voted for option two and 13.8 percent voted for option three. In their warped wisdom, the Conservatives arrived at the answer they wanted by adding together options two and three to come up with their claim that 62.2 percent of farmers were in favour of having barley removed from the CWB’s single desk. In other words, put it on the private market.
Before the vote, the government did not tell farmers they were going to add options two and three together. Could they tell us how many farmers who voted for option two wanted barley removed from the CWB’s single desk authority and how many wanted barley marketing to remain as is?
Except maybe in the minds of Conservatives, these are unknown quantities. The Harper government could just as easily have added options one and two together for 86.2 percent in favour of the CWB’s single desk, but that would not be the answer they wanted.
It seems evident the government put in option two so they could manipulate the numbers to get an answer that would give MPs reason to destroy the CWB. So they held a dishonest plebiscite.
Considering Conservative disrespect for truth and honesty, a majority Conservative government would likely mean the end of an effective CWB. Having the CWB gives grain farmers a measure of control. How much control do hog and cattle farmers have?
As the old saying goes, the electorate should be careful what they ask for. They might get it.
George A. Calvin,
New Norway, Alta.
Dead stock disposal
There are mounting concerns about predator losses among sheep and calves by coyotes. As a sheep producer, it concerns me that we are not examining the possible reasons for the problem.
Without an adequate food supply, coyote populations are minimized and predation is dramatically reduced. The experience in the County of Westlock in the early 1970s is worth noting.
Livestock losses became such a concern that the county decided to collect and properly dispose of all dead livestock for a year. The result was an 80 percent reduction in losses to coyotes.
Alberta, however, through the Disposal of Dead Animals Act, has allowed for scavenger disposal of dead animals on the owner’s farm property, along with burning, burial and composting. This provides for an unlimited food supply and bigger litters.
Eventually, coyote populations exceed even the available carcasses of farm animals and naturally the coyotes turn to the next most available food, sheep and calves.
Like Saskatchewan, some jurisdictions may choose to impose a bounty, which leads to more problems.
When coyotes are eliminated from an area by shooting, poisoning or snaring, there may not have been a real predation problem and the reduction of coyotes in that environment merely allows room for other coyotes to move in. …
Our experience with guardian dogs since 1979 has proven beyond a doubt that coyote losses can be eliminated. In effect, our farm is a coyote free zone….
Sheep producers create their own disasters by allowing dead sheep to provide food for their dogs. Eventually, the guardian dogs end up guarding this food supply instead of the farm animals.
More seriously, the dogs may become infected with tapeworm, which is deadly for the sheep when the worm eggs are ingested. In our area of the North Peace River Country, the dogs may end up defending the carcasses against ever more encroaching wolves, and inevitably lose the battle and their lives.
Let’s properly dispose of dead farm animals, and teach livestock producers how to manage guardian dogs, before turning loose the riflemen trying to shoot coyotes for a measly $20.
Trevor Jones,
Fairvew, Alta.
Car theft
In Open Forum Feb. 25 (“Car thief jail,”) Don Budesheim ridicules my letter to the editor of Feb. 4 (“Foiling thieves,”) where I was upset that some of the new vehicles require $125 computerized door and ignition keys to foil thieves.
I’ve heard of other systems that cost as high as $500 per key. My suggestion was that instead of designing high tech keys, we should perhaps build new jails where car thieves could be reformed.
Budesheim is obviously oblivious to the realities of the criminal world. True, as he suggests in his letter, some cars are stolen when the keys are left in the ignition, especially when their engines are running. I fail to see how the technology of the key will stop someone from stealing a car that has the doors opened and the engine running….
Cars, trucks, semi trailer units along with construction and farm tractors have disappeared without a trace. One teenage computer hacker from Montreal, who ran under the pseudonym of Mafia Boy, was able to crack the security codes of major banks and corporations. Breaking such codes included access to automated tellers, vaults and classified information.
Therefore, Mr. Budesheim, I doubt that the door keys on a Ford or a Chevy would pose much of a threat to the criminal mind.
John Hamon,
Gravelbourg, Sask.
Enlightened approach
Where is (Alberta premier Ed) Stelmach on truly renewable solar energy in sunny Alberta?
SunEdison, a division of MEMC Electronic Materials of North America, has just been awarded a contract to build Europe’s largest solar power installation. This 72 megawatt installation, large enough to power 17,150 homes, will be built in a northern region of Italy.
The facility will provide jobs for 350 workers. Completion date for the project is late 2010. This solar array is expected to remove the equivalent carbon emissions that 8,000 vehicles would produce.
Italy’s renewable and sustainable approach of generating power from the sun is far more enlightened than the Stelmach government’s latest plan to spend $2 billion of our tax dollars to try to stuff carbon dioxide underground.
The Alberta government’s policy of carbon sequestering looks more like a continuation of the problem, raising the dangerous probability of a major carbon dioxide release at some future date on a planet prone to shifting tectonic plates.
Norm Dyck,
Grande Prairie, Alta.
Enough already
We hear that the (Brad) Wall government (in Saskatchewan) is seriously thinking of privatizing our crown corporations. This is what happened the last time when (former premier Grant) Devine was running the show.
When that happens, we lose all we have worked for all these years. Should such a thing happen to SaskTel or SaskEnergy, we will not only end up paying much more for the services, but the workers will suffer through layoffs and loss of all gains made through union effort and bargaining. Saskatchewan people have worked long and hard for the gains they have made and do not appreciate having them taken away.
It is a well known fact that right wing governments do not like unions and consider they have too much bargaining power.
Every time right wing governments have the power, the people suffer while they cut taxes to the corporations and let the workers carry the load. Then there is not money enough to pay for all the services needed.
There is also a rumour that (prime minister Stephen) Harper is thinking of privatizing pensions and handing over the administration to charitable organizations. As long as you have a dime, you will no longer be eligible, another blow against the people of this country.
Can you imagine what will happen if Old Age Pensions, Canada Pension Plan or Employment Insurance are privatized? I say enough already.
Jean H. Sloan,
Lloydminster, Sask.
Sewage issue
Re: “Sewage ejector ban raises stink in Man.” (WP, March 25.)
The Onsite Wastewater Systems Installers of Manitoba Inc. (OWSIM Inc.) is an association formed of certified installers of on-site waste water management systems in Manitoba.
We feel it important that the public be apprised of OWSIM’s recommendations to the former minister of conservation, Mr. Stan Struthers, regarding the amendments to the Onsite Wastewater Management Systems Regulation. Our association had concerns regarding the legislation, which bans sewage ejectors in our province.
We are still interested in learning the science behind the belief that sewage ejectors should be banned.
We asked the former minister of conservation, as well as other Manitoba Conservation staff members for this information, but they were not able to provide us with any science or research to back up this belief.
According to our knowledge, sewage ejectors are a viable form of sewage treatment. Sewage ejectors require suitable soils, specific setback distances and ground and surface water conditions so that environmental requirements can be met.
The sewage leaving the home runs through a solid pipe and not just a hose to the septic tank. The sewage leaving the septic tank is not grey water, it is partially treated sewage called effluent.
It is partially treated because it has been held in a two compartment septic tank where it receives anaerobic treatment while in the first chamber and aerobic treatment while in the second.
This effluent is then further treated by various means. After being treated by ultraviolet disinfection from natural sunlight, a percentage is dispersed through evapotranspiration.
The remaining effluent filters its way through the soil where natural filtering happens through the soil’s texture and structure.
When properly explained, one understands that what is being pumped on the ground is partially treated effluent, which gets further disinfected through a natural and sustainable process.
OWSIM, in letters sent to Mr. Struthers during the 2009 consultation period, recommended that his department continue mandating sewage ejectors on lots of a minimum of 10 acres but legislate proper fencing around the ejector head to prevent contact with humans and animals.
Sewage ejectors are allowed in Alberta as well as Saskatchewan in terrain similar to Manitoba’s.
Regarding the risk of nutrient loading, sewage from ejectors in residential use is actually less nutrient rich than the raw sewage being hauled from holding tanks to lagoons.
Effluent coming from a two-chamber septic tank is at least partially treated, unlike raw sewage from conventional holding tanks.
The province is encouraging installation of conventional holding tanks that do not promote sustainable waste water treatment. Their use merely shuttles the problem to another site.
OWSIM recommended to Mr. Struthers that further educating the public and providing incentives to families and businesses for reducing phosphate levels in their waste water would do far more to reduce nutrient loading than promoting the use of conventional holding tanks and banning ejectors.
We feel that property owners affected by this ban have not been properly informed nor given suitable opportunities for consultation. …
Udo Staschik, President,
Board of Directors of OWSIM Inc.
Stonewall, Man.
