Thursday, May 31, 2012
Is he from another planet?
If City Manager Murray Totland doesen't believe the national survey (SP May 31/12) regarding Saskatoon residents' response to roadway conditions in this city, then he is stone-cold deaf!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Gas up and go
That's quite the little tin can the city police have for a rescue unit (SP May 30/12.) But who do they intend to rescue? I thought it was intended to be an assault vehicle for SWAT.
I tend to agree with David Eby when he states that police across the country are putting spending priorities on equipment and technology to solve policing problems when the vast majority of the policing issues stem from poverty and mental illness.
I'm torn on this issue because I believe police should have all necessary equipment to do their jobs and protect their own lives as well as ours while doing their duty. But there is a limit on expenditures and I'm not sure that this money couldn't have been better spent toward that endeavour.
I tend to agree with David Eby when he states that police across the country are putting spending priorities on equipment and technology to solve policing problems when the vast majority of the policing issues stem from poverty and mental illness.
I'm torn on this issue because I believe police should have all necessary equipment to do their jobs and protect their own lives as well as ours while doing their duty. But there is a limit on expenditures and I'm not sure that this money couldn't have been better spent toward that endeavour.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Green lights for red lights
Who would have thought that prostitution would ever become a home-based business?
When the issue of home-based businesses first arose it was to license those who provided services in their homes - hair, nails, sewing, accounting, legal - and one of the arguments was that these types of business allowed people to stay at home with their families while still actively engaging in their professions. They were limited to the number of people they could service in a day.
It was also to make them pay licensing fees and taxes that commercial enterprises paid for providing the same services.
If hookers cannot provide services in their homes, then is it truly a home-based business?
This may be like the "I'm a little bit pregnant" scenario. You either are or you aren't.
When the issue of home-based businesses first arose it was to license those who provided services in their homes - hair, nails, sewing, accounting, legal - and one of the arguments was that these types of business allowed people to stay at home with their families while still actively engaging in their professions. They were limited to the number of people they could service in a day.
It was also to make them pay licensing fees and taxes that commercial enterprises paid for providing the same services.
If hookers cannot provide services in their homes, then is it truly a home-based business?
This may be like the "I'm a little bit pregnant" scenario. You either are or you aren't.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Shuffled or shafted?
Wow, you could have blown me away when I read Rob Norris was shuffled out of Cabinet.
There was a lot of time, energy and money spent on getting Norris re-elected last November. A lot of big hitters worked his campaign and I imagine they are not overly happy about his loss of a cabinet position.
Or perhaps it was more about keeping Prebble out of the legislature than getting Norris in.
Premier Wall said the changes were not based on merit or performance. But if good performance does not merit maintaining a position, what does?
There was a lot of time, energy and money spent on getting Norris re-elected last November. A lot of big hitters worked his campaign and I imagine they are not overly happy about his loss of a cabinet position.
Or perhaps it was more about keeping Prebble out of the legislature than getting Norris in.
Premier Wall said the changes were not based on merit or performance. But if good performance does not merit maintaining a position, what does?
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Welcome to the big city!
For those who longed for Saskatoon to hit big city status, I think your wish has come true. The drug peddlers have us on their radar screens, handguns are surfacing, although knives are still the weapon of choice, the number of homeless are growing, housing is out of range of citizens, gangs are staking territory, family violence is at an all time high - ain't life grand.
I know all of this existed when we were Sleepy Hollow, but not to this degree. The police station is going to fill up well before we hit the 400,000 population mark.
I know all of this existed when we were Sleepy Hollow, but not to this degree. The police station is going to fill up well before we hit the 400,000 population mark.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Cut the loss
What the hell was the city thinking when it agreed to buy 18 housing units from a developer at roughly $200,000 a pop? Even with the city offering grants to cover down payments, how will low income citizens get a mortgage for the balance?
The city intentions of developing affordable housing should be applauded. However, its role should have been as a facilitator to organizations that actually know how to do it and do it well. Instead taxpayers will now subsidize down payments and forfeit tax revenue from these properties as a result of this action.
The best laid plans . . .
The city intentions of developing affordable housing should be applauded. However, its role should have been as a facilitator to organizations that actually know how to do it and do it well. Instead taxpayers will now subsidize down payments and forfeit tax revenue from these properties as a result of this action.
The best laid plans . . .
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Born yesterday?
Nothing annoys me more than political snow jobs. For MLA Don Morgan to suggest that adding three more constituencies to the roster. at a total cost of $675,000.00, will not cost taxpayers any more money is inane. His reasoning is they intend to cut spending on existing travel and communications budgets to offset these new costs.
If MLAs have this much fat to trim, they should do so and put the money towards public needs. And if the rationale is better representation of constituents, then why cut communication allowances.
Why can't they simply say Saskatchewan's population is growing and we believe this will benefit Saskatchewan residents in the long term. End of story. Move on.
If MLAs have this much fat to trim, they should do so and put the money towards public needs. And if the rationale is better representation of constituents, then why cut communication allowances.
Why can't they simply say Saskatchewan's population is growing and we believe this will benefit Saskatchewan residents in the long term. End of story. Move on.
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