While local media cheerfully reported that the Saskatchewan government had received a “pasing grade”, other portions apparently don’g merit any attention – that despite a decrease in provincial population, the Calvert government has boosted provincial spending a staggering 26% since taking office in 2001. And then there’s this;
The bottom line is if we didn’t get a $700 million one-time handout from the feds and experience a $333 million increase in oil revenue, we’d be staring square in the eye of a $244 million deficit.
While oil prices are forecast to remain strong, we know for sure that $700 million aint coming coming back.
Details here from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
Lorne Calvert governs just like Jean and Paul. Elwin should’ve been voted in. You’d have been doing far better with him.
Wonder when the next Sask election should come?
This is really true!
This is the only reason I hesitate to think it would be a good idea for Alberta to accept either Saskatchewan or BC as a party to separation. The people of BC regularly show me that they are not ready to become a partner to a separated and free Alberta by the way they vote, both federally and provincially. Saskatchewan is no different. If people are this stupid I say let them go down with Ottawa’s sinking boat, bailing like hell. Vote for a socialist and you get socialist governance, along with all the problems.
BTW, slight change of topic. Here’s a headline about gang-related violence in the Lower Mainland. This is also a result of the socialist, multicultural, gimme mindset. This one has a twist however:
Street gangs for hire
Ethnically mixed gangs parcel out their services to organized crime groups
http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=ea1f3710-1499-452d-8e37-6f328eb9b423
If I were to accept a border in Canada, and I don’t think it’s a good idea. I would accept the single Sask. Manitoba border.
Alberta and Saskatchewan need access to offshore shipping, without any border hurdles.
The three Westerns would make a decent country on their own, except that overall world clout will have been sliced to a mere 20% of what is enjoyed as a Canadian entity.
Far better to do it the hard way and patiently clean-up Ottawa.
Surely you can accept that fraud and graft
in Ottawa can lead to laws and controls that strengthen our democracy and conserve our national revenues, while making Canadian Governance more efficient. ‘3s TG
Sorry Tony. I’ve given up on Ottawa. The reason is that they (existing beaurocracies and whatever party is in power) are owned and totally controlled by the few fabulously rich families and the multi-national corporations they control. They also control the UN of course, and are behind the EU. I don’t think there is anyone that can be trusted in Ottawa politics. If we are to maintain control of our own lives we have to retreat, get small, and power up. What better time to do it than now, with the wealth that Alberta is ammassing. Perhaps Albertans are red-necked enough to take a stand and make it happen. We’ll see.
Fraud and graft in Ottawa leads to more fraud and graft in Ottawa, you’re dreaming Tony if you believe otherwise.
I don’t blame you, John, for the way you feel. Sometimes I think perhaps there are only two viable options for the long run: the breakup of the federation or the complete renewal of it, much as we saw in the CPC itself, which must be given a chance to make things work so that the aforementioned options don’t become the only ones left.
We can wait a few more years. Patience can pay off big time, or not. Gotta try one more time. But if the Liberals continue to rule no matter what, then all bets are off.
I’m optimistic, yes, but realistically so. That’s how I live life.
Kelly, I don’t believe otherwise so much as I believe this to be a good place and time to fix things for the better.
Kelly, what do you gain by throwing in the towel so easily?
Can you provide absolute proof that all is hopelessly lost? And don’t give something like *wake up and smell the coffee*.73s TG
War of Libranos to kill off Access to information continues�.
==============================
In an interview later, Ms. Kothawala added press access to documents is essential to keeping an eye on how tax dollars are spent and what the government is doing to protect citizens’ safety and security.
A spokesman for Treasury Board, which is responsible for administering the act, called the newspaper association’s comments “exaggerated.
“Suggestions that ‘secret rules’ are being applied government-wide to requests from media organizations to unnecessarily delay them are untrue,” Robert Makichuk said in an e-mail statement.
“Government departments routinely prepare ministers and senior officials to respond to notable issues stemming from requests from all sources, be they from individuals, members of Parliament, organizations or media outlets.”
Yesterday’s conference comes as the federal government examines how to reform the current Access to Information Act, which allows members of the public to request government documents for a $5 fee.
Critics have slammed the 22-year-old legislation as antiquated and filled with loopholes.
================================================
Above and below are from Today�s Sept. 9/2005 Ottawa Citizen
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Syracuse University professor Alasdair Roberts, an access to information expert, did a further study of the system.
He found the system leads to “unjustifiable delays in the disclosure of information.” Using government data, he determined the refusal rate for media requests was more than twice that of regular requests.
In his 2004-05 annual report, Mr. Reid noted he received 50-per-cent more complaints regarding delays than the year before. He cited “top-heavy approval processes” and “too much hand-wringing over politically sensitive requests” as some of the reasons why.
Anne Kothawala, president of the Canadian Newspaper Association, suggested yesterday that lengthy disclosure delays have the same effect as rejecting requests outright.
“Let’s be clear, delay is particularly injurious to media,” she said. “It can kill a story, for stories are temporary constructions of fact that collapse without the support of critical information.�
========= End of snippet. Google Ottawa Citizen -Head: Media access requests often delayed, censored, group says _______73s TG
As I see it there are two dangers to a united Canada at this time. Forgetting all the other things like the gun law, Gomery, etc., the two things that will lead to Alberta separation are;
1. another Liberal victory at the polls. Even if it isn’t a majority if the Liberals and NDP can form a majority it means basically the same thing, and
2. another national energy program or something similar.
So we will see. But I can also add that, in my case, the CPC and Harper need to prove themselves. I’ll vote for them of course, but I’m not at all comfortable with their ability to do the things the West, and specifically Alberta, wants. If either #1 or #2 comes to pass then all bets are off. If Alberta sits and takes it I think I’ll become a hermit somewhere up the West Coast and sit out the next twenty years. Or course I’ll have my two-way, high speed Internet satellite so I can still keep in touch with all you guys and gals. I’ll let you know how the fishing is.
The thing that worries me about this report (and Alberta’s too) is that inspite of what the leaders say, government keeps growing like a cancer. If it wasn’t for an increase in oil revenue and extra fed money in Saskatchewan, both provinces would have their credit cards taken away and sent to financial counselors.
I was there in the ’90s and Alberta belt tightening. It was tough for all of us but the thought of getting out of debt and actually benefiting in the long run kept most people going. Now try to talk about lowering taxes and a cry of “caution” streams from political mouths. Can never understand this but then again in 1917, income tax was a “temporary” measure to pay for the Great War. Go figure, eh.
Tony, after a lifetime (35 odd yrs) of voting Conservative and watching consecutive Liberal governments getting voted in by Eastern Canada, I personally see no end in sight and now our sons and daughters are voting and it’s the same old same old. Sorry but this old broad is ready to throw in the towel and the sooner the better.
You guys out west don’t need to separate,just help us poor eastern rednecks get rid of that festering boil of a city at the center of the universe…If we can get rid of Toronto then most of this countries problems would be solved.Hmm..I,d even throw in Ottawa center(Broadbentoutofshape’s riding)
Kelly, you’re just baiting me…eh!
You probably know that when things are cleaned up after a mess, they can be better than they ever were.
Even with all the Libscam rip-offs and diversions of our national revenues, this land of milk & honey still mails out millions of social and pension fund cheques.
Contrary to all doubts [as expressed in the 1970s and 80s], instead of shrinking, the backing reserves for those benifits are brimming with reserves.
There are new resources adding to our general well-being in Canada. Lotteries, a Niagra of cash flow, though not a favorite, and the diamond industry are just two of many.
Life is so great in this country that if you were not aware of all that is wrong with Ottawa, you would likely not think of tossing in the towel at all,
Everything we enjoy today was made possible by thousands of who didn’t throw in the towel but did bite the dust. They, who would be a bunch of old guys now, would roll their eyes if they heard how you were talking.
Our major problem today is that Canadians are so busy enjoying a busy life, they can’t spare the time to be informed and the MSM is not much help at all. 73s TG
Well then it is a good thing they paid off a bunch of the Grant Devine debt load, freeing up some $400 million for next year. Meaning that if Oil revenue drops to $0 and no extra monies from the feds, the people of Saskatchewan will have $156 million surplus.As long as everything else is equal, but Oil revenues are not going to slow done that much that quick.
Why is that Ralph Klein is applauded by poeple of your mindset, when he pays off debt with oil revenue. Yet Lorne Calvert is chastised for the same choices.
Do you want your cake and ….
I applaude the NDP govt of Sask for fiscally responsible policy.
You’re joking right. Ralph doesn’t pay off the unions, increase the size of the crowns and hire all the reds with the surplus. The highest property taxes in the country. Billions surplus but Lorne (Don Knotts) and Harry Van Whoagain? (Dan Ackroyd) are too inept to understand that by increasing the personal tax exemption will help the low income earner than raising the minimum wage.
Wait!!! These are the same REDS that were going to tell small business how to manage the hours of work for their employees and would set the seniority list. Wait!!! these are the REDS that don’t buy that there is a crime problem in Saskatoon and Regina..C’mon Sir Clive.
Time for this tired ineffective group of has beens to move on