GREAT VOLUNTEERS
To the Editor:
The 2012 edition of Canadian Western Agribition just wrapped up and I continue to be humbled by the generosity in this province — most specifically, the 400 volunteers who give countless hours to Agribition to make the show an annual success.
There is no other event in this province that produces over $27 million in economic impact that is volunteer run. The passion and dedication we receive from our volunteers is the lifeblood of the show and most certainly speaks to the spirit of the province.
Read Also
Agriculture needs to prepare for government spending cuts
As government makes necessary cuts to spending, what can be reduced or restructured in the budgets for agriculture?
We look hard for ways to articulate our appreciation from this extensive group of stakeholders and one resounding gesture always speaks clear. Thank you.
WHO PAYS?
To the Editor:
I read in the Nov. 22 Western Producer, with great interest, SARM (Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities) lobby for farmers, and APAS (Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan) lobby for farmers.
I’ve never had an RM councillor or APAS member ask me for my opinion or I’ve never seen a questionnaire as to what we, the farmers, want.
To find out what this costs me is impossible. As far as I’m concerned SARM should get out of lobbying and get down to business of roads, bridges, etc.
APAS has no purpose, so get rid of it. All they do is make a comment once in awhile to keep their jobs. If I want to join a lobby group I can pay my fee and have some input.
How much does it cost to have SARM conventions twice a year? I have never heard what it costs to have APAS do nothing.
I know SARM and APAS will tell us they’re doing good so they can have conventions at my cost — what have they accomplished?
I’m sure The Western Producer would print the budget for both these groups if they would tell them.
EXPLANATIONS NEEDED
To the Editor:
Why did (Saskatchewan premier Brad) Wall’s government:
- Declare war on labour via bills 5, 6, 80 and an omnibus bill of 15 labour acts?
- Kill NDP promised funding for public surgery centres and instead provide private for-profit surgical units at much greater expense to medicare?
- Drive a billion dollar film industry out of Saskatchewan?
- Hire billionaire U.S. corporations to overhaul Saskatchewan’s health care when Saskatchewan has been a leader in health reform in North America?
- Add three MLAs costing taxpayers $675,000 per year when this money could have been used to address Saskatchewan’s high infant mortality rate, child poverty, homelessness, education funding in our major cities and aboriginal education?
- Allow the secret and controversial sale of publicly owned LeRoy Regional Park with no owner consultation?
- Push a P3 (public-private partnership) model when numerous research studies prove its financing disastrous in construction costs and managing health facilities…?
- Not oppose federal cuts to PFRA, cutting of 19,000 civil service jobs, seniors’ pensions, KAIROS, CBC, archival records, food inspection service and environmental reviews?
- Use American-style ads to falsely discredit four young New Democrat candidates seeking leadership roles in Saskatchewan?
- Break its promise not to privatize our money-saving crowns? Wall, Bill Boyd and Ken Cheveldayoff took their profits and privatized SaskTel’s, SaskEnergy’s and SaskPower’s out-of-province assets. Now they justify the sale of 60 percent of Saskatchewan profit-making ISC (Information Services Corp.) to out-of-province corporate entities.
- Introduce private liquor stores without consultation?
Democracy is government of the people, by the people and for the people, not the corporations.
SUMMER ART SCHOOL
To the Editor:
The announced closure of the Kenderdine Summer Art School at Emma Lake, Sask., is of concern to me.
I visited there once or twice when my mother and another farm woman were students, “the two old ladies” among mostly teachers. They shared one of the rough cabins. A painting of the interior done one rainy day, a wood stove and bracketed kerosene lamp, mother’s straw hat hanging from an easel: these were familiar to mother, who had been on a homestead from 1910.
Mother had a lifetime interest in art doing scenes from their farm in Iowa. Her father gave encouragement, some early correspondence lessons, training at a girls college — Red Wing, Minnesota — where she learned oil painting, a winter at Winnipeg School of Art doing human anatomy drawings.
Her acquaintance with Augustus Kenderdine, shortly after he became art instructor at the Saskatoon campus, came while he was in the chilly top level of the physics building. I vaguely remember a tall man wearing a long lab coat, unfamiliar to me from the farm.
Mother had her sister on campus, married to farm foreman T. Brydon. My father took me by train to B.C.
An early homesteader, he was proud of mother’s art and later in the pre-Second World War days encouraged her to take further anatomy drawing at Winnipeg School from Lemoine Fitzgerald, recently given recognition, an invited member of Group of Seven.
I was reminded of Emma Lake on a visit to the Kleinburg Gallery where Group of Seven artifacts showed their interests similar to Kenderdine’s — sketches, sometimes on birch bark, wrinkled paint tubes in small carrying cases. Oil painting had a long history.
Kenderdine had skill in blending colours with his thumb or a silk rag. His European training blended with homesteading among Lloydminster pioneers (and) formed the inspiration for the first wilderness school. Group of Seven artists used similar ways. Visits to galleries showing Paul Kane’s, Russell Remington’s, Henderson’s historical work suggest there is a value in the primitive experience. Summer camping is still popular.
SALE OF NEXEN
To the Editor:
Does anyone remember that Nexen, the multimillion-dollar company, was once SaskOil, given (away) on a silver platter by (former premier Grant) Devine?
Could Harper figure his allowing China to purchase Nexen gave him a bargaining chip for the trade agreement he is so anxious to sign, but requires the destruction of our unions and marketing boards?
Would that put China in the right frame of mind and grease the wheels a bit?
LEAVE ALFALFA ALONE
To the Editor:
Re: “Plan to pave way for Roundup Ready alfalfa” (WP, Nov. 8).
Why GM alfalfa? Alfalfa does very well on its own — as it is. It grows abundantly, with its own natural insect and weed resistance. There is no need to modify or contaminate it.
Alfalfa is one of the best feed sources, as is, for livestock. Changing alfalfa to GM will probably eventually minimize its natural present resistance and probably add to its inability to resist opportunistic weeds and insects.
Thereafter, the altered alfalfa genetics will probably require additional modifications, such as more chemicals to control the problem the GM created in the first place. Would GM also change perennial alfalfa to an annual, costing the farmer more money? Leave alfalfa alone.
I believe it was Henry Kissinger who said, “control the oil, control the government — control the food, control the people.” Seems that’s where we’re headed.
This is just another example of Canadian government once again endorsing a large corporation’s wish list. GM foods are on the way to eventually controlling all North American foodstuffs and thus controlling all farmers and ranchers.
