U.S. produce
To the Editor:
I read with interest your front page item Sept. 26, “U.S. warns Canada off heavy foray into American markets.” Change the names from U.S. to Canada in the heading and first paragraph to see what it would mean then.
Does this just apply to grain only? What about the fruit and vegetable industry? You can go into any supermarket and find U.S.-grown fruits and vegetables. Has this damaged Canada’s fruit and vegetable industry? I guess we all know the answer to that, just ask the growers in B.C. what happened to them after the free-trade agreement. Maybe we should sue Mr. Mulroney for $50 million in damages for what he did to this country.
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Late season rainfall creates concern about Prairie crop quality
Praying for rain is being replaced with the hope that rain can stop for harvest. Rainfall in July and early August has been much greater than normal.
– Lillian Johnston,
Hazlet, Sask.
Corporatism
To the Editor:
Darrin Qualman (Sept. 12 Open Forum) briefly discussed the fallacy of corporates saving rural life. The facts are corporatism is destroying rural life. While driving from Radisson to my farm near Blaine Lake, not a farmstead was to be seen through that fertile region except near Radisson and the Blaine Lake RM sign, a distance of at least 20 miles. There were a few reminders of where there were farms and schools; otherwise deserted land.
It is obvious corporatism is subtly conditioning the public and political leaders to accept a tyranny dictated by private corporates. Some people feel if this trend toward doom is to be averted, the party political system must be replaced with a system resembling our municipal governments, where party discipline does not influence MPs and MLAs to legislate in a manner which favors the corporates and offends the constituents.
Most changes taken or taking place are those influenced by the abusive corporate bureaucrats. They lay waste to our resources and then blame the victims. Even wildlife groups are guilty of such deeds.
Consider the duck and seal organizations who desecrate our food-production industries and offer a great deal of advice in protecting the food industries, but never physically or economically stand behind their advice.
The duck organizations now advise farmers to desiccate their crops and then straight-combine. To many farmers such changes are beyond their economic means.
As yet the organizations have not demonstrated any actions to help pay for such ventures.
R. C. Martin is disturbed about the proposed privatization of Manitoba’s telephones. Obviously the Filmon regime is catering to corporate greed. Corporate aims are to increase shareholder earnings regardless of social impact. …
Profit in itself is neutral. It is good when used to sustain life, but ruthless if used for takeovers and centralization of powers, which causes inflation and stress.
Those who feel large-scale private industries are better than public services should compare medical costs.
A radio open-line caller got sick while in the U.S.A. Medical treatment for his ailment in Minneapolis cost $70,000. The same treatment in Saskatchewan costs $3,500. Such a vast cost difference may not be typical, but it does reveal the nature of private corporate business.
We don’t need that!
– Stuart Makaroff,
Saskatoon, Sask.
Public track?
To the Editor:
… As the Transport Department has a new Minister, it occurred to me that possibly he could use a little help. So, accordingly, I set about writing up a blueprint of a system I considered had quite a lot of merit.
In this, having regard that both Rail Carriers are now private entities, (maybe monopolies would be more appropriate) at any rate, I thought why don’t we the people, through our Government, approach the Railways with the proposition of taking over the railbed network along with the associated maintenance equipment and run it like the Provinces do the highways, wherein both current carriers, as well as any others that were interested, could run on any and all of it as freight demands require.
They would pay a licence annually to ensure responsible performance, as well as a user fee based on a tonne-mile rate.
We would maintain the track and they the rolling stock and at long last we would have a measure of that laudable component called competition.
But somewhat surprisingly, the Minister was not impressed. Indeed, he continued by saying that on information he has from countries that use such a system, the results are not too satisfactory. Unfortunately, he doesn’t say who he was talking to, and I would say that if it happened to the counterparts of CN or CP, I am not surprised that they were not exactly ecstatic about it, but that is not to say it would not be good for the rest of the country.
He went on to state that we really should apologize to the Railways, as they are being forced to abandon some lines, by the grainhandling interests …
Well now, that might seem a plausible analysis in far-away Ottawa, but I am sure most out here on the Prairies are pretty sure that the Railways have exhibited a determination for at least the last 25 years to close down anything that fails to provide a maximum level of return and the Elevator Companies are indeed scrambling to establish bases on the heavier lines, as they recognize the inevitability of the Railway’s drive and are hurrying to get preferred locations ahead of their competition, but to suggest that they are calling the abandonment “tune” is surely the ultimate in “putting the cart before the horse.”
So, realizing the futility of trying to convince the Minister, I instead undertook to bring him up to date on what many of us think of our system of Governance, which simply put, is that we have gone full circle back to the days prior to Oliver Cromwell, when the Feudal Barons with the benign compliance of the Crown dominated the scene without regard for its effect at ground level! I added that while we still have the vote, this too has lost much of its meaning due to the highly manipulative influence of the mostly corporate-controlled media, and that one could surely be excused for wistfully wishing for another Cromwell to appear! It shall be interesting to hear what he says about that!
– Philip Lindenback,
Weekes, Sask.
Rural knights
To the Editor:
While travelling through Saskatchewan in August, we … headed north along a gravel road near Little & Big Quill Lakes. A flat tire was the last thing we needed, so we had one.
Hot, dusty, no sign of life in either direction and four immovable tire nuts … (but) a knight in the form of a local grain farmer arrived in his truck. He quickly changed the tire for us. When offered payment, he refused saying “I hope you will do the same for me if I am in your part of the country.” Gallantry still does exist and two very appreciative Manitobans enjoyed a pleasant stay in your lovely province.
