Mathematically Challenged?

I'm late posting this morning as it took me a while to come out of shock after reading the Star Phoenix article on Council's record capital spending. We have six councillors that have committed to no tax increase beyond the rate of inflation, that being the majority vote. We have the provincial government freezing spending and examining its priorities and commitments. We have a capital budget that suggests a 10 to 12 percent tax increase. Somehow none of this adds up.

Councillor Paulsen states she expects the provincial government to keep their promise and she is not going to stockpile money to give the province an opportunity to find a way out. I expect this means council spends, creates debt and if the government doesn't cough up then it is the fault of the government, not council, and thus council is entitled to jack up property tax. This rationale is so old and lame. Its as smart as the provincial government establishing a budget based on commodity revenues.

The items in this budget that will find favour with the public have the least financial impact. Adding $425,000 to repair of back lanes, although a pittance, is a start. Extra money for front street repair would have been appreciated as well. Doubling the community garden development fund to a whopping sum of $3,000 seems the best investment. For $3,000 you enable the community to enhance and maintain city owned property. Its a steal. The city can't even cut weeds on the boulevards for that amount of money.

As for $5o,ooo for rebranding Gordie Howe Bowl, if you have to spend money to find ways to convince people how to use a facility maybe you don't need the expanded facility. Although I support a community pool for Mayfair maybe things are going over the top and you don't need lane pools, spray toys, waterslides, etc. Lets keep in mind that after the capital expenditure comes the operating and maintenance cots of these facilities.

I for one would invest in buying each councillor an abacus.

A Tiger by the tail . .

I think Tiger Woods is one of those rare athletics - the best in his sport to date. If you are a golfer it is a pleasure to watch him play. I am very interested in every aspect of his game.

I am not remotely interested in his matrimonial harmony, or lack thereof. I care not how many dalliances he is alleged to have had, their names or amounts paid for silence - if in fact any of this is true. If a public figure's personal/family life does not impede his/her ability to do their work, or they do not use their family as props for personal advancement, then it should not be up for public consumption.

Put the Tiger back on the tee.

I see the train a comin'

Who can we believe? I have heard for decades that the baby boomers are the wealthiest generation that ever was or will be. Yet during Jack Layton's recent visit to the NDP homeland he states that we have a demographic train coming and we don't have the tools in place to deal with it. Thus we, the general taxpayer, should invest 700 million into the Canada Pension Plan.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but unlike Old Age Security pension that every Canadian receives, Canada Pension is the plan that employers and employees contribute to and your pension receipt is based on your contribution. I might understand if he wanted to bump up OAS for poorer seniors, but the demographic train coming is hauling, for the best part, affluent passengers.

I think I could be convinced that many of today's senior women need additional assistance, since many would not have worked outside of the home and be eligible for CPP, but CPP is not the correct funding source to fix this problem.

Jack needs to check the destination of the train before booking a ticket.

Not the perfect Xmas gift

I agree with the law that people should not be allowed to profit from their crimes. When parolee Colin Thatcher decided to write his denial, my first thoughts were who cares. Another book to collect dust on the shelf of the unread. Then Sask Justice decided to become its promoter. This book is getting prime time media attention, not because of its literary value or content, but because of the action of Sask Justice.

I can't believe that outside of Moose Jaw, or Saskatchewan, that anyone would be interested in this book. After publishing costs, how much profit would there be? Would any thinking person actually pay a dime to read the ramblings of Thatcher? I hoped not. However I expect the book sales will now increase as a result of the actions of Sask Justice. Perhaps we should have waited to see if there was any profit to pursue before chasing after it.

Real authors would kill for this kind of attention to their publications. Hmmm . . .maybe . . .

As books are hot commodities during the Xmas season, treat your friends and families kindly and bypass this one.

Big Brothers

I have this growing uneasiness about government intervention on lifestyle choices, yet I don't necessarily disagree with it.

Banning the use of cell phones while driving is one. I think it is dangerous for a driver to call or text while driving and puts others at risk. The dangerous part is distraction from concentration necessary to vehicle operation, so allowing for hands free use of cell phones defeats the purpose.

Banning smoking in a private vehicle with kids in the car is the right thing to do. One would think every person would know that and not do it. Apparently not, so government will legislate it.

Restriction on tobacco sales sort of falls into line with alcohol. You have to be of a certain age to purchase booze and then only from the government operated store, with few exceptions. At a time when debate is ongoing as to whether or not private liquor sales should be allowed, we take another legal substance and put more restriction on it. If it is a given that both alcohol and tobacco are unhealthy lifestyle choices, why not just ban sales of these products.

Increasing our conduct, when deemed by government to be bad for us, is being legislated. It seems if we as individuals are judged by government or lobby groups to be making poor choices, then big brother will take away our right to choose.

Given that obesity is a growing health concern across the province/country, perhaps government will save us from ourselves and legislate diets.

I am left in a quandary. I don't disapprove of legislation that protects people, particularly youth, but I am getting an uneasy feeling about the intrusion of government.

I already have three great brothers and don't really want government to join my family tree.

The pot and the kettle

"There is only one taxpayer." Who do you think said this? Canadian Taxpayers Association? A business group? A right wing fanatic? Wrong! It was NDP deputy leader Deb Higgins. I wish she had understood that that when her party was in government and down loaded everything onto municipal governments and property tax payers. As dear ole granny liked to say, this is like the pot calling the kettle black.

Although the Gantefoer was way off the mark on the potash revenue and guilty of over optimism on potash sales, so were legions of others who held on to potash stock. Old Premier Wall is now damned if he does and damned if he doesn't on this budget. When he puts a hold on spending until this mess is reviewed and the budget renewed he is charged with breach of promise. If he continues with the spending and we are in a deficit, he is charged with mismanagement. I think the apt expression here is 'hoisted on one's own petard.'

For those of us in the peanut gallery it is simply hypocrisy.

Checkmate!

Mendel Chair Art Knight should have his name on a ballot in an election. He's a natural. His response to the Mayor's question on who approached whom "The gallery came to the realization that this wasn't going to work at the current location." was the ultimate finesse in political debate. When you have two councillors sitting on your board, a council that has been reluctant from day one to finance an expansion and publicly saying it wants a public arts centre on River Landing, it is only surprising that it took so long to come to the realization.

Initially I had heard that the federal/provincial governments were going to fund the whole thing and the concern would be operating costs. At the time of the federal/provincial announcement it stated each senior level was going to put in $13 million, less than half of the original $55 million. At that time the Mayor said the balance would be fund raised - he forgot to mention the fundraising would be the mil rate. After committing $13 million for a new building, I was surprised the province left another $4 million on the table - that being the money for an expansion that was not to be.

In the end, the city is putting in about $20 million bucks. To date, there is no private development to support the public component. We have six councillors that have committed to no mil rate increase beyond rate of inflation. Where is that money tree?

On the horizon is the MVA, which is totally funded by the city and province for operating costs, salivating at the thought of moving into the old Mendel site - and it will be looking for capital funding to renovate the existing building and increased operating costs.

And to come full circle, Mr. Knight may know the names of his chess pieces, but he obviously does not know how the game is played. Checkmate!